On 23 July 2025, the newspaper Rodiaki reported that a resident of southern Rhodes claimed he and his 16‑year‑old daughter were subjected to disproportionate and unjustified force during a police check the previous afternoon, after officers stopped his motorcycle. According to the complaint, the situation escalated when the daughter attempted to leave briefly to retrieve a missing document from their home. The resident alleges that the police officer physically restrained her by the neck and verbally abused her. The girl was later examined at a hospital, where medical documentation was issued.
The report also notes that the girl’s adult brother arrived at the scene after being notified and became involved in a verbal confrontation with the officers. According to the newspaper, he was arrested two hours later at his workplace by a police unit.
Regarding the police perspective, Rodiaki stated that officers described the incident as a routine stop of an unregistered motorcycle, during which they claim they were confronted by the three individuals involved. The officers subsequently filed complaints against them.
Following the complaint submitted by the alleged victims, the police officer implicated in the incident was placed in custody. The family’s lawyer requested a forensic examination for the underage girl due to visible injuries on her neck.
In a state governed by the rule of law, the actions and operations of police authorities must be guided by certain principles, including the principle of legality, the principle of proportionality, the prohibition of abusive exercise of police power, and the respect and protection of human rights. The powers of the police and the conduct required during the performance of their duties are regulated, among others, by Presidential Decrees 538/1989, 141/1991 and 254/2004.
Although the police may use force when necessary to enforce the law and protect human rights, this does not mean that any preventive or repressive use of force is lawful. Arbitrary or excessive use of force and actions that exceed legal limits constitute a serious concern for any democracy.
Given the above, the incident raises questions regarding compliance with the legal framework governing the lawful operation of ELAS, particularly with respect to preventing excessive and arbitrary force against civilians – an issue that must be investigated by the competent state authorities and the judiciary.
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