GREECE: Several hundred Muslims take to the streets of Athens in protest against racism following what they claim was a desecration of a Koran by a Greek officer
Record ID:
212634
GREECE: Several hundred Muslims take to the streets of Athens in protest against racism following what they claim was a desecration of a Koran by a Greek officer
- Title: GREECE: Several hundred Muslims take to the streets of Athens in protest against racism following what they claim was a desecration of a Koran by a Greek officer
- Date: 30th May 2009
- Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (MAY 29 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS GATHERED AT CENTRAL SQUARE PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNERS READING "STOP RACIST ATTACKS" PROTESTERS WEARING HEADBANDS IN ARABIC PROTESTERS CHANTING, HOLDING BANNERS (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) MOROCCAN PROTESTER ABDULLAH SAYING: "Muslim immigrants came here to fight for a better life, to fight for a better future. We live together well with the Greeks and we want to coexist with the Greek people." BANNER READING 'NO RACISM, PAPERS FOR ALL' PROTESTERS PREPARING TO MARCH, HOLDING A BANNER READING 'HANDS OFF IMMIGRANTS' PROTESTERS MARCHING AND CHANTING 'GOD IS GREAT' VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING AND CHANTING PROTESTERS CHARGING DOWN STREET VARIOUS OVERHEAD VIEWS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING DOWN ATHENS STREET
- Embargoed: 14th June 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Greece
- Country: Greece
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA5CZCH11SU9C9PKPG0QC3XM8FU
- Story Text: Some 1,000 Muslim immigrants staged a protest march in Athens on Friday (May 29) calling on the Greek government to end racism and to highlight the problems of immigrants.
The demonstration came after a violent clash between Muslim protesters and police last week. The demonstrators smashed vehicles and vandalised shops after members of the community claimed a police officer tore and stomped on a booklet of the Koran belonging to an immigrant during a check for his residence permit.
The Muslim Association said it has filed a lawsuit against the police officer.
Police said they launched an internal investigation into the incident but no one has been charged.
On Friday, accompanied by human rights group, the protesters waved banners reading "Stop racist attacks" and "Hands off immigrants" and chanted 'God is great'. They marched through the streets of Athens towards the Greek parliament.
"Muslim immigrants came here to fight for a better life, to fight for a better future. We live together well with the Greeks and we want to coexist with the Greek people," said Abdullah, a protester from Morocco.
The protests highlight problems in the Muslim and immigrant communities, including continuous harassment by police, discrimination, low living and working standards, and lack of a proper mosque or cemetery for Muslims despite years of promises by administrations.
On May 9, members of a pro-nationalist right-wing group attacked illegal immigrants squatting in a building in Athens, sending at least three to hospital. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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