Greek Courts Have the Opportunity to Demonstrate Their Effectiveness in Fighting Racism and Xenophobia

The criminal case on the murder of Albanian emigrant Gramoz Palushi will take place in Patras, Greece, on November 25, 2005.

One year ago, on September 4, 2004, a Greek citizen in the Zakinthos island of Greece stabbed Albanian emigrant Gramoz Palushi fatally. The event took place on the day the Albanian national soccer team won a match against Greece. The fatal assault took place only because Albanian emigrant Gramoz Palushi demonstrated his joy for the victory of the Albanian national team in a soccer match by waving the national flag.

The public opinion, the Albanian and Greek media, the state authorities of both countries harshly condemned this barbaric act as an expression of xenophobia and racism. The Albanian Helsinki Committee reacted toward this act through its public declaration of September 6, 2005, and called upon Greek authorities to undertake relevant measures to hold those guilty legally responsible.

Following the progress of investigations on the murder of the Albanian emigrant, the Albanian Helsinki Committee, in conjunction with the Greek Helsinki Monitor, expressed their concern in a joint press conference in September 2005. They emphasized, "The investigation of the case of Gramoz Palushi, murdered by a racist immediately after the Albania-Greece soccer match in September 2004 appears to have found a 'comfortable' psychiatric assessment of the author of the crime, which is scientifically wrong."

• Today, one year after, on the eve of the start of a judicial process on the author of this macabre crime:

• Believing in the values of a democratic country, a member of the European Union, as Greece is;

• Stressing the importance of respect for principles sanctioned in the European Convention on Human Rights, ratified by Greece, with regard to the conduct of a due, legal process;

• Appreciating the importance of a judicial system's independence in democratic countries;

• Appreciating the importance of the fight against expressions of xenophobia and racism in Europe, in general, and in Greece, in particular;

• Appreciating the need for cooperation and the spirit of friendship existing between the two neighboring countries;

• Appreciating the importance of respect for victims' rights;

• Drawing the Greek judicial authorities's attention to conclusions of international monitoring institutions such as ECRI, which emphasized in its third report on Greece, issued in July 2004, "ECRI recommends to Greek authorities to strengthen legal provisions and their enforcement in criminal, civilian and administrative laws, with a view to fighting racism and discrimination," and to "strengthen efforts to raise the awareness of civilian employees, the public in general, and the media, about human rights and problems of racism and intolerance."

The Albanian Helsinki Committee believes that:

1. Greek judicial authorities will carry out a regularly, unbiased, and objective judicial process against the author of the crime that took the life of Albanian emigrant Gramoz Palushi;

2. Greek justice, in enforcing criminal policies, will keep in mind the dangerousness of the offence and the author as well as the grave consequences arising from the committed criminal offence;

3. The Greek court will keep in mind the very serious, racist motives that led to the commission of the criminal offence;

4. The victim's interests will be observed in keeping with European standards regarding the treatment and remuneration of victims.

The Albanian Helsinki Committee once again reiterates the idea that violent acts of xenophobia and racism severely harm the healthy atmosphere between our two peoples.

Greek justice has the opportunity to demonstrate it is committed to the harsh condemnation of any demonstration of racism and intolerance by anybody.

Tirana, November 24, 2005