From the Greek Streets » Mohammad Atif Kamran http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog Irregular updates and articles on the situation in Greece, in English Wed, 08 Sep 2010 05:09:19 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 #111 | Public building occupations in solidarity with the Nikaia 3 spread across the country http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2009/10/21/111-public-building-occupations-in-solidarity-with-the-nikaia-3-spread-across-the-country/ http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2009/10/21/111-public-building-occupations-in-solidarity-with-the-nikaia-3-spread-across-the-country/#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:33:59 +0000 admin http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/?p=892 On October 17, an anarchist demonstration against the police assassination of Mohammad Atif Kamran in the Athens suburb of Nikaia was attacked by the cops. As it was reported at the time, eight demonstrators were arrested and charged – five were facing charges under the “anti-hoodie law” introduced after December’s revolt.

The response of the solidarity movement was instant. On the very same night of the demonstration, the local Town Hall of Nikaia was occupied, with the occupiers demanding all the demonstrators’ immediate release. In the days that followed the occupiers left the Town Hall to take over the Propylea building of Athens University instead (that being more centrally located and easier for them to spread their message). Yesterday, the administration building of the Chania Prefecture was occupied in Crete. Today (21.10) the Theater School in Thessaloniki and the Administration building of the Athens School of Economics (ASOEE) were added to the occupations’ list.

Meanwhile, out of the 8 arrested demonstrators 5 have appeared before the attorney general and secured their release until trial – all but one on bail. The remaining three demonstrators are appearing before the attorney general tomorrow, 22.10. The occupations of the public buildings across the country are set to continue until all are free.

]]> http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2009/10/21/111-public-building-occupations-in-solidarity-with-the-nikaia-3-spread-across-the-country/feed/ 1 #106 | Photos from tonight’s demonstration in Nikaia, Athens http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2009/10/17/106-photos-from-tonights-demonstration-in-nikaia-athens/ http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2009/10/17/106-photos-from-tonights-demonstration-in-nikaia-athens/#comments Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:15:53 +0000 admin http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/?p=866 img_1136

The banner reads: Mohammad Kamran Atif, dead from torture at the Nikaia Police Station – MURDERERS.


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More photos on Athens IMC.

]]> http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2009/10/17/106-photos-from-tonights-demonstration-in-nikaia-athens/feed/ 1 #105 | Town hall of Nikaia, Athens is occupied after demo for the police killing of Mohammad Atif Kamran; statement by the occupation’s assembly. http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2009/10/17/105-local-town-hall-in-athens-is-occupied-after-demo-for-the-police-killing-of-mohammad-atif-kamran/ http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2009/10/17/105-local-town-hall-in-athens-is-occupied-after-demo-for-the-police-killing-of-mohammad-atif-kamran/#comments Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:23:51 +0000 admin http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/?p=863 Mohammad Atif Kamran was a 25-year old migrant from Pakistan. On September 26, Mohammad’s house was raided by police who beat him, dragged him to the local police station and tortured him. On October 10, Mohammad passed away (more on his case here).

Today, a week after Mohammad’s death, a demonstration was called at Nikaia, the Athens suburb where he lived, by anarchist groups. At the end of the demonstration, some people entered the local town hall and occupied – as of now (19.00 GMT) the occupation continues.

What follows is a rough translation of the assembly of the occupied town hall.

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STATEMENT FROM THE OCCUPIED TOWN HALL OF NIKAIA

Four-hundred demonstrators marched together today, October 17, on the streets of Nikaia in a demonstration of rage for the recent assassination of 25-year old Pakistani migrant Mohammad Atif Kamran, who passed away following his torturing in the police station of Nikaia. The demonstration had been called by anarchist collectives and a local assembly of the neighboring areas.

We walked through the area’s main streets, passed by the house of the assassinated Atif and headed toward the police station. The large numbers of Riot Police (MAT) and motorcycle forces (Delta and Zita) that were “accompanying” the demonstration parading in its front, back and side streets, were highlighting the official stance of the now Socialist Ministry of Public Order (now called Ministry of Citizen Protection!): To cover up and support the torturers, assassins, the police occupation of the area in face of the appearance of the world of struggle and solidarity. After all, what happened will continue to happen: beatings, torturing and ridiculing of detainees in all police stations across the country.

During our gathering and for the largest part of the demonstration the rain was falling heavy. And yet at the point of passing in front of the police station of Nikaia it wasn’t just the rain drops. The unit protecting the police station also took a rain of stones. The orderly continuation of the demonstration and our retreat from that point was met with the combined attack by Riot Police units in both the back and side part of the demo. The people at the sides of the demo, chained up, held up against the police attacks and locals watching from the pavements and balconies were jeering and swearing at the police occupation force. Yet in-between the mist of the tear gas and the attack of the Riot Police some of us were isolated from the main demonstration and so, were detained by police.

The demonstration ended up at a specific area of Nikaia (“perivolaki”), as previously agreed. Given the police detentions, a large part of those of us gathered there occupied the Town Hall of Nikaia, to demand the immediate release of our captioned comrades. Some of us who left in their vehicles were also stopped at a nearby junction and detained, too. The exact number of the detained is unknown (even if we do know some names for sure) but is definitely a two-digit one, while some have already been charged. The new state doctrine of “democracy and an iron fist” is here in its full glory – as announced by the new minister of Polic Order himself – against all those who revolt and resist. Same as in the gathering of workers and unemployed of the shipyards of Perama on October 15 outside the Ministry of Employment. Same as in Exarcheia, occupied for days now. Same as in the charges against high school students occupying their schools. Same as in the forthcoming mobilisation of the shipyard workers of Piraeus against the selling-off of the port to the COSCO corporation, or the 1400 workers threatened with firing at the shipyards of Skaramangas, in Attica.

Police barbarity is no more than the repressive version of the state-capitalist barbarity: repression, exploitation, submission, death.

What the new political administration came to largely handle was the social dimension of the crisis of our times: the expanded disobedience and confrontation with the demands of the political and financial elites. No illusions then. There shall be no change coming from the new government. As always, after all. State terrorism continues and along with it, continues the struggle for social and individual emancipation, for a free world, without authority.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE DETAINED DEMONSTRATORS

DROP ALL CHARGES

IMMEDIATE RETREAT OF THE POLICE FORCE FROM THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF NIKAIA

AND AROUND THE OCCUPIED TOWN HALL

assembly of the occupied town hall of nikaia

]]> http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2009/10/17/105-local-town-hall-in-athens-is-occupied-after-demo-for-the-police-killing-of-mohammad-atif-kamran/feed/ 5 #103 | To live and die under socialism: Another migrant dies after police beating; the occupation of Exarcheia continues http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2009/10/11/103-to-live-and-die-under-socialism-another-migrant-dies-after-police-beating-the-occupation-of-exarcheia-continues/ http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2009/10/11/103-to-live-and-die-under-socialism-another-migrant-dies-after-police-beating-the-occupation-of-exarcheia-continues/#comments Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:28:22 +0000 admin http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/?p=858 On the night of September 26 fifteen cops raided the house of Mohammad Atif Kamran, a 25-year old migrant living in the neighbourhood of Nikaia in Athens, shouting and beating him and his family. At the time, there was a complaint against Kamran for a child beating. Eyewitness neighbours say he was dragged from the house in such a way that his head would bang on every step on the way out. He was taken to the local police station, which became a torture chamber: He was held for two days, during which he was subjected to severe beatings (while tied hand and foot) and electrical shocks. On the second day, the person that had placed the original said they did not recognise Kamran and that the police had arrested the wrong person. Kamran’s family and neighbours knew of his torturing by the police but fear prevented them from taking him to a hospital, as he was undocumented. On October 10th, Kamran passed away.

The police tried to cover up the incident. His brother was pressured and misled into signing that Kamran had no bruises when he left the police station.

Meanwhile, the neighbourhood of Exarcheia is living police socialism to the full, that is, beatings, intimidation and arrests for all. On the night of Saturday October 10th, the cops extended their occupation of the neighbourhood for a third consecutive night. It is now becoming clear that the plan is to establish an even more permanent presence in Exarcheia. This is already met with resistance: A first impromptu demonstration was called for Saturday. What will happen in Exarcheia in the days and weeks to come is crucial – the cops are hoping it will set a precedent for more unrestricted use of force across the country.

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