Racism in Europe - Greece

Greece

On 11 April 1919, Greece supported the racial equality proposal against some countries' strong oppositions in the Paris Peace Conference.

Although not a prosperous welfare state in its own right, Greece has become the focus of illegal immigrants, if only the first port of call by such immigrants in their attempts to move on to Europe. Most of these immigrants are declared political refugees and are thus protected from eviction from within the EU borders. Based on the Dublin regulation political refugees from non EU countries will not be evicted and will be hosted in the country of their original entry in EU. Many of these immigrants, mainly from Africa, Bangladesh and Pakistan, have faced racist abuse from the locals. In recent times Afghani refugees have also faced prejudism and even violent attacks by the far right Greek population. Attacks on them by Greek right-wing groups have happened repeatedly in Athens, often with the silent consent of the Greek city police. The increased presence of illegal immigrants in the center of Athens coincides with an increase in sexual and criminal offenses against Greek and Foreign citizens.