Blog Feed: THIS IS NOT MY COUNTRY

Falling Prey to Extremists

Published on 2012-05-03 00:55:31

The following is a lead editor article from the Athens News (as is the title). No one can deny that the far right is on the rise in Greece and in Europe. The impressive tally of Marie Le Pen’s National Front in the first round of French elections speaks for itself. The financial recession and [...] > read more

Huge Gains For Far Right

Published on 2012-05-01 05:33:08

Via the BBC A divided and deeply angry nation is going to the polls, desperate for an alternative – a nation fearing the future and looking for someone to blame. Greece goes to the polls on May 6th and the alternative parties that look set to do very well are both far-right; Laos and Chrysi [...] > read more

The Rise of Golden Dawn

Published on 2012-04-14 02:33:29

Via the New York Times > read more

Detention Centres On The Way

Published on 2012-04-10 04:28:12

The coalition government is rushing to ready at least one detention centre before the general elections. After years of indifference and incompetence in working towards a proper asylum procedure and integration processes, the easiest  and most “vote effective” way is being taken on the immigration issue. Build walls and prisons. Mass arrests and enforced health checks have [...] > read more

Amnesty Alarmed By New Plans

Published on 2012-04-04 03:15:37

Via Amnesty International > read more

Extremists Want Mines

Published on 2012-03-29 09:49:04

No immigration No asylum reform. No discussion. No understanding. No. The right wing extremists, Chrysi Avyi (Golden Dawn) want mines. Via the Athens News The message, as ever with ultra rightwing party Golden Dawn (Chrysi Avyi), is simple. No unregistered immigrants are welcome here, no unregistered immigrants are wanted.   Their position has been reiterated following [...] > read more

Immigration Digest

Published on 2012-03-27 05:46:09

    As you may have noticed, THIS IS NOT MY COUNTRY has been a bit dead for a while. I have no intention of closing this place but I have not had time at all to update in any regular way. There has also been a distinct lack of news on the issues I [...] > read more

The Unspoken Epidemic

Published on 2012-01-27 04:42:06

I’ve been shouting about this for years but it’s done no good. It seems that people still find it impossible to believe that racism exists in Greece. A long time ago now, I wrote about how dangerous this denial is and would be. People who were with me saw it too but the vast majority preferred, [...] > read more

Objections to Athens Mosque

Published on 2012-01-16 05:42:48

Via the Athens News THE PASOK government’s decision last year to convert an unused naval building in Eleonas, near downtown Athens, into a mosque is being fought at the Council of State. Metropolitan of Piraeus Serafim and a group of 10 other citizens are challenging the decision for the education ministry to cover the cost [...] > read more

Asylum Failures

Published on 2012-01-05 02:18:05

Via Deutsche Welle Thousands of undocumented migrants leave their homes every year for a European Union they believe to be the promised land. But for the ones caught at the Greek-Turkish border, refugee camps prove to be quite a different reality. Huddled together in cold, unhygienic camps with no warm water and no separate rooms [...] > read more

Yet Another Mosque Setback

Published on 2012-01-04 03:56:33

Via Today’s Zaman   According to the Greek press, Greek Orthodox Bishop Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus appealed to the Council of State to withdraw a Greek bill that would allow the building of a mosque in the capital city, Athens. Known for his far-right views, Seraphim described the bill as an anti-Christian move and a [...] > read more

Systematic Deficiencies in Asylum Procedure

Published on 2011-12-22 02:59:58

Please note that the inadequacy of the asylum procedure in Greece and the criticism of it, did not start during the financial crisis. I have been covering the shameful record of the country for many years. If you would like to read more articles about this issue, please click here for information on the Dublin Agreement or [...] > read more

Holiday Time

Published on 2011-06-20 10:13:06

I am fortunate enough to be able to take a holiday this year. I will be away for just over a week and will not be posting any new articles here until I get back. If you leave a comment, it will automatically go into moderation and I will check it whe > read more

Protest against Immigrant Centres

Published on 2011-06-18 04:41:14

The people of the municipality of Didimotiho in Evros are protesting against the building of a detention centre for immigrants entering Greece without papers. They are not protesting because these detention centres are mostly inhumane holding prison > read more

The Indignant of Athens

Published on 2011-06-08 03:57:23

According to some estimates at a certain point on Sunday evening, there were half a million people gathered in Syntagma Square. It marked the 12th day of protests against the corrupt government and its incompetence. Similar protests have been held in > read more

Gay Pride Success

Published on 2011-06-06 02:45:01

    Via AFP Thousands of Greeks took to the streets of Athens on Saturday to protest against anti-gay prejudice. Organisers said about 10,000 people took part in this year?s Athens Pride parade, the city’s seventh — twice as man > read more

Welcome To My New Domain

Published on 2011-06-05 17:14:11

Due to unfortunate circumstances beyond my control, my previous domain has been lost. I am not going to dwell on the loss as all my previous posts and comments, almost 6 years of work, have been rescued and imported here. Thank you to the love of my > read more