Anti-racism protests in Athens hours after Dendias labels migrants ‘tragic’
Hundreds of people took part in an anti-racism protest in central Athens on Thursday.
The event was co-organized by United Movement Against Racism and the Fascist Threat (KEERFA) and groups representing Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Egyptians living in Greece.
The protesters were calling for a relaxing of immigration controls and the disbanding of the European Union’s border agency, Frontex.
The protest came after 12 migrants drowned off Farmakonisi last week in circumstances that are under investigation.
The rally was held a few hours after Public Order Minister Nikos Dendias (photo) lamented the “quality” of migrants that come to Greece.
“The quality, the difference in cultures of migrants that we receive is tragic,” he said.
“I do not denigrate anyone but they are people who come from a totally different world,” he told Skai TV.
“The migrant from the ex-Soviet Union that goes to Sweden has some kind of level,” he added.
“We have to deal with migrants from Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who have a different culture, who come from a different world. That is our misfortune.”
