In Greece, being a citizen and a human being is a felony!

*We sign– share and demonstrate for citizen Petros Kapetanopoulos,  for democracy, for justice and against all kinds of fascism, whatever its disguise!

The news:

On July 21^st, Petros Kapetanopoulos heard shouting in his neighbourhood, in Kolonos (Athens). He had just put his young son in bed and told his wife he would go out to check what was going on. As he went down the stairs, he saw five officers of DIAS squad that had arrested an immigrant. One of them had his foot on the arrested man’s stomach. “Why are you doing this? You’ve arrested him, there is no need for violence!” said Petros Kapetanopoulos. Then, they explained Petros that they were not walking on the man and demonstrated strong violence again, by hittin the man, again “This is walking on the man”, they said.  Petros repeated that this was all about torturing a man that is already arrested.  The end result? Petros was also arrested!

After that, the immigrant is accused (and, later, admits) he had stolen the bag of a young girl, because he was hungry.  Petros Kapetanopoulos, on the other hand, is charged with the following:

Α. «resisting arrest»,

Β. «false  testimony»,

C. «attempt of  liberating a prisoner» while there is not a single evidence on this, not even from the testimony of the officer (the only accusation witness),

D. and, finally,  not only the Public Prosecutor drafts a common file charging Petros Kapetanopoulos and the immigrant man, also accusing Petros of  «simple complicity in robbery», which is a felony! (**UPDATE)

After all this, among others, Petros Kapetanopoulos –being a public servant- is at risk of being deprived from his income for four years and is ex officio temporarily laid off as he is indicted for felony.

At the same time, the same charges may mean lots of years in prison, if he is not proclaimed innocent in Court.

At the Press conference that was given, after Petros Kapetanopoulos’ attorney explained the legal situation of his client, party representatives, organizations, unions and others have expressed their solidarity and support, speaking of a “State that wants none to care about their fellow people”.

* The protest text:

We demand all the unjust charges to be withdrawn, and justice to be reestablished for Petros Kapetanopoulos as well as democracy.

The whole Greek society should demonstrate against fascism in uniform acting against human rights by any kind of torture, molestation or humiliation. To have lawyers, UN, Amnesty international as well as all those who support human rights to bring to justice all those who dare to act in any arbitrary and fascist way just because they wear the uniform of power.

These are issues that matter not only to Greece but also to the international community.

Citizen Petros Kapetanopoulos supported justice in acts. He acted against fascism and injustice, supporting human rights.

And, now, he is being charged for this precise reason! Risking losing 4 years of his salary because he is unfairly accused of felony, while he is a public servant!

And all this, because he protested against a fundamentally fascist act he saw happening in front of his very eyes and he reacted for humanity and justice.

So, if we wish to be called his supporters, citizens, democrats but, also, humans, we also have to support him in acts.

We are against fascism and fascism is not only Nazism: it is also any kind or form of molestation as well as indifference!

We sign for all charges against him to be lifted. We demand all unjust charges to be withdrawn and justice and democracy to be reinstated.

Movement for citizen Petros Kapetanopoulos

Greek Citizens

(more info: ΤΟ ΚΕΙΜΕΝΟ ΔΙΑΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΑΣ)

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Until now (1/31/13, 11:00PM) 6602 people: students, Academics, Authors, Lawyers, Medical doctors, Journalists, Teachers, Anthropologists, Sociologists, Psychologists, Researchers, Theologians, Farmers, Workers, Public servants and employees, University students, job-seekers, etc., from whole Greece and Cyprus but also from all over the world, such as: Australia, USA, France, Austria, Scotland, Belgium, England, Sweden, Turkey, Poland, Holland, Germany, etc., either ordinary people or well-known, express their support to Petros Kapetanopoulos.

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Τranslation: Christine Cooreman

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**UPDATE – 1/19/2013:

Dear Companions and Friends,

I have just been informed by Kostas Papadakis, that the deputy Prosecutor of the Appellate Court who had undertaken the file of my case asks for its admission to the Judicial Council of Athens and my dismissal from the charge of the felony of complicity in robbery. She also proposes the admission of my case to the Single Appellate Court of Felonies of Athens, in order to be tried for the misdemeanors (“resisting arrest”, “attempt of liberating prisoner” and “false testimony”). Once her proposal is accepted by the Council, my dismissal from the accusation of felony is settled and the danger of my imposed work inactivity is averted.

It is a very positive development, without being definite.

It is a first major victory of solidarity towards me.

We continue!

Thank you again and good morning.

Petros Kapetanopoulos

(Τranslation: Renia Pournara)

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SING THE PETITION – SIGNER LA PETITION – FIRMEN AQUI LA PROTESTA – FIRMARE LA PROTESTA QUI – ASSINE A PETICAO – ΥΠΟΓΡΑΨΤΕ ΤΗ ΔΙΑΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΑ – UNTERSCHREIBEN SIE DEN PROTEST:

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2. Or SING THE PETITION – SIGNER LA PETITION – FIRMEN AQUI LA PROTESTA – FIRMARE LA PROTESTA QUI – ASSINE A PETICAO – ΥΠΟΓΡΑΨΤΕ ΤΗ ΔΙΑΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΑ – UNTERSCHREIBEN SIE DEN PROTEST:  via avaaz.org: «In Greece, being a citizen and a human being is a felony!»

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• MANIFEST IN ENGLISH: In Greece, being a citizen and a human being is a felony!
• LA MANIFESTATION EN FRANÇAIS: En Grèce, être citoyen et être humain relève du crime!
• LA PROTESTA EN ESPAÑOL: EN GRECIA SER CIUDADANO Y HUMANO ES UN DELITO!
• LA MANIFESTAZIONE IN ITALIANO: In Grecia, essere cittadino ed umano è un crimine!
• O PROTESTO EM PORTUGUES: Na Grécia ser Cidadão e Ser Humano é delito!
• DER PROTEST AUF DEUTSCH: In Griechenland ist es ein Verbrechen ein Bürger und ein Mensch zu sein!
• ΤΟ ΚΕΙΜΕΝΟ ΔΙΑΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΑΣ: Στην Ελλάδα το να είσαι πολίτης και άνθρωπος είναι κακούργημα!

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• SING THE PETITION – SIGNER LA PETITION – FIRMEN AQUI LA PROTESTA – FIRMARE LA PROTESTA QUI – ASSINE A PETICAO – ΥΠΟΓΡΑΨΤΕ ΤΗ ΔΙΑΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΑ – UNTERSCHREIBEN SIE DEN PROTEST (ENGLISH / FRANÇAIS / ESPAÑOL / ITALIANO / PORTUGUES / DEUTSCH / ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ)

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• ΟΙ ΥΠΟΓΡΑΦΕΣ
• Με λένε Πέτρο Καπετανόπουλο
• ΜΗΝΥΜΑΤΑ ΣΥΜΠΑΡΑΣΤΑΣΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΔΙΑΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΑΣ
• ΣΥΝΕΝΤΕΥΞΗ ΤΟΥ Π. ΚΑΠΕΤΑΝΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ
• Ελλιπή στοιχεία που λάβαμε σε μορφή ιμέιλ ή σχολίων
• ΑΡΘΡΑ
• ΨΗΦΙΣΜΑΤΑ ΑΠΟ ΣΥΝΔΙΚΑΛΙΣΤΙΚΟΥΣ ΦΟΡΕΙΣ
• ΕΙΔΗΣΕΙΣ

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«Κανένας μόνος του.»

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