Continuing Pattern: Yet Another Roma Boy Dies in Greece Police Chase: Analysis

Most of the mourners at the funeral were teenagers.

Christos Michalopoulos, a 17-year-old, was laid to rest outside a church near the city of Thebes in Greece. He died during a police chase on November 11. The funeral was attended by his classmates, friends, and family, all dressed in black and clinging to each other in silence.

The atmosphere was filled with shock, and several family members even fainted and required medical attention. When the coffin was carried out of the church, a small crowd chanted Michalopoulos’s name as if responding to a school attendance register.

This incident marks the third time in less than three years that a Roma teenager has been killed in a case involving Greek police. Since the tragedy, protests, demands for justice, and clashes with the police have erupted across the country.

Michalopoulos’s loved ones assert that he was killed by the police, but the Hellenic Police service has not confirmed this claim. Amnesty International has called for a thorough and transparent investigation and has raised concerns about a potential discriminatory motive.

On November 16, an accused police officer gave his initial testimony in Thebes. Michalopoulos’s loved ones waited anxiously outside the court, vehemently expressing their frustration with the police and their lawyer. Witnesses describe Michalopoulos as a quiet and friendly individual who had a passion for cars and music.

One of Michalopoulos’s friends and relatives mentioned facing regular harassment from the police. He claimed that they are constantly bothered by law enforcement officers and that they feel afraid to move around. Another friend recounted an incident where he and a friend were subjected to a full body search by the police in front of their neighbors.

While awaiting further developments in the investigation, the teenage friends anxiously paced back and forth, hoping that the accused police officer would be detained. They expressed their desire for justice and for such incidents to never happen again to anyone, regardless of their ethnicity.

The accused police officer was eventually released from custody after giving his testimony. He has been temporarily suspended from active police duty.

Footage from a CCTV camera near the scene of the killing was released a few days after the incident. In the video, the car driven by Michalopoulos can be seen speeding away with the police vehicle closely pursuing it. The police officer can be heard shouting for the car to stop, followed by the sound of knocking and, within seconds, gunshots and screams.

According to Greek media reports, the autopsy revealed that Michalopoulos was shot at close range, and forensic evidence indicates that none of his DNA was found on the gun. The lawyer representing the Michalopoulos family has accused the police of tampering with evidence, alleging that the crime scene was washed, the vehicle was cleaned, and the deceased boy’s hands were wiped.

At present, the Hellenic Police has not responded to Al Jazeera’s requests for comment. The Michalopoulos family, belonging to the Roma community, has accused the police of discrimination.

The Panhellenic Confederation of Greek Roma has also criticized the police for their actions, pointing out the previous fatal incidents involving Roma boys. They have emphasized the urgent need to address racism and intolerance in society.

Two court cases against the police officers involved in the previous killings are ongoing. The families of both victims are demanding justice and calling for investigations into hate crime charges.

The recent killing of three Roma teenagers by the Greek police has garnered significant attention and sparked protests. The incident has also drawn attention to the larger issue of racial profiling and discriminatory practices faced by the Roma community both in Greece and across Europe.

Given the history of racism and violence against the Roma community, there is skepticism regarding the investigation into this killing. Activists and human rights organizations have called for accountability and structural reforms to address systemic discrimination. The impact of this incident extends beyond the immediate tragedy and highlights the need for long-term change.

Source: Aljazeera news: Another Roma boy dies in police chase, marking grim pattern in Greece