A group of about 200 people attempted to hold a protest rally in Syntagma Square protesting the violation of the rights of hunger striking prisoner Dimitris Koufontinas.
Due to restrictions on gatherings because of the Covid-19 pandemic however, the gathering was not permitted and according to complaints, the police beat citizens and journalists, used tear gas and water cannons and chased protesters through the streets. 29 were arrested; all were fined for violating Covid-19 restrictions and charges were brought against 7 people.
The Manifold is compiling a file of allegations of police brutality. Check it out here.
The right to assembly is enshrined in both the Greek Constitution (Article 11) and the European Convention on Human Rights (Article 11). Although the police have the legal authority to attend public gatherings and to disperse them for specific reasons such as a threat to public order, the measures they take must be proportionate. The indiscriminate use of violent means that threaten the life or physical integrity of citizens is illegal in a state that adheres to the rule of law.
In addition, the ability of police officers to use violence is governed by the same guarantees as in any other case, as reflected in the Code of Criminal Procedure (Article 256), Presidential Decree 141/1991 (Article 120), Presidential Decree254/2004 (Code of Police Ethics) and in the 2005 Circular issued by the Headquarters of the Hellenic Police Force.
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