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Prevent violence in stadiums
On May 11, 2008, at the stadium
of Gjirokastėr, the football match between the
teams of Delvinė and Sarandė was held. After the
Delvinė team scored a goal, players walked to a
net in front of the stadium steps to celebrate
with their fans. At that moment, police
intervened violently and, as a result, 3 persons
were wounded. Two of those are still in
hospital.
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC)
correspondent in Gjirokastėr met with the
persons involved in the incident. Based on the
verification, it resulted that one of the police
officers, tasked with ensuring order and safety
in the stadium, hit with a baton a juvenile and
Sali Alinani who were attending the match. At
that moment, Artan Alinani, a police officer who
was in the stadium as a fan, intervened to
defend his relative and prevent the continuation
of violence. He was hit several times with a
baton and was dragged until he was unconscious.
Based on verifications on site,
it resulted that police officers could and
should have avoided the conflict situation
without violent means. Police officers claimed
that the fans did not behave correctly and even
used insulting words toward them. Nevertheless,
according to AHC, it was possible for police
forces to not go beyond what the law permits and
not use violence.
AHC condemns the act of violence
committed by police officers toward the fans in
the stadium of Gjirokastėr.
The Albanian Helsinki Committee
is concerned about the increase in the number of
cases of conflicts and violence in Albanian
stadiums and expresses its profound indignation
at the way such cases are managed.
AHC calls upon the Directory of
State Police to take measures so that such forms
of police reaction are never repeated in the
future. Albanian police should increase the
level of professionalism, its skills in managing
such situations, and the ethics of community
service.
The Albanian Helsinki Committee
suggests to the Prosecutors Office to
investigate this serious case quickly and
objectively.
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