 to establish a new police unit to deal with racial violence. The justice minister also promised stiffer sentences for hate crimes. Both were key recommendations from our report.

Saleh Ibrahim, a 26-year-old Somali who acted as an interpreter for Human Rights Watch during research for this report, was chased down the street in Athens by five men in June 2012. They caught him and beat with a piece of wood. His hand was broken when he tried to shield his head from the blows.

Ibrahim did not report the crime because he believed the police would not help him. But hopefully in the near future, other asylum seekers will trust the police to investigate their cases and hold their attackers accountable.

During the research for our recent report, “Hate on the Streets: Xenophobic Violence in Greece,”we spoke with dozens of migrants and asylum seekers, including two pregnant women who had experiences like Ibrahim’s.

Greece has become a major gateway into the European Union for migrants and asylum seekers from the Middle East, South Asia and Africa. Most travel across Turkey to reach Greece, where they seek a better life and a safe haven. At a time when Greece is struggling with its debt, the increase in immigrants has fanned support for the far-right Golden Dawn party, which was voted into Parliament last June.

Violence against these migrants has surged, yet in July, when we issued our report, the Greek police had no strategy to prevent attacks or protect immigrants. They had yet to prosecute a single person under a hate crimes law passed in 2008 to deter racial violence. Instead, authorities had taken a “blame the victims” approach–even going so far as to charge victims €100 to report a crime. Some police told victims they should learn to fight back and that undocumented migrants would be detained if they insisted on an investigation.

Meanwhile, groups of dark-clad, masked attackers have continued to target migrants and asylum seekers on Athens’ streets.

We are encouraged by the government’s response to our demands that it step up and stop the violence. But the problem is far from resolved. We will monitor the situation to make sure Greek officials follow up these promises with action. We are asking authorities to make clear that they will investigate and prosecute these crimes, deploy officers to hot spots for violence, and offer police and prosecutors training on how to prevent and respond to xenophobic violence. We want to ensure that undocumented migrants will never
to establish a new police unit to deal with racial ferocity. The judge minister also predict stiff sentences for hate crimes. Both were cardinal recommendations from our report. 

 Saleh Ibrahim, a 26 - year - erstwhile Somali who acted as an interpreter for Human Rights Watch during inquiry for this report, was chased down the street in Athens by five men in June 2012. They caught him and outwit with a piece of forest. His hand was broken when he try on to shield his head from the blows. 

 Ibrahim did not report the crime because he believe the police would not help him. But hopefully in the near future, other asylum seeker will trust the police to investigate their cases and hold their attackers accountable. 

 During the research for our late report, “ Hate on the Streets: Xenophobic Violence in Greece,”we spoke with dozens of migrants and asylum seekers, include two pregnant women who had experiences like Ibrahim ’s. 

 Greece has become a major gateway into the European Union for migrants and asylum seekers from the Middle East, South Asia and Africa. Most travel across Turkey to reach Greece, where they seek a good life and a safe haven. At a meter when Greece is struggling with its debt, the increase in immigrants has fan support for the far - right Golden Dawn party, which was voted into Parliament last June. 

 ferocity against these migrants has surged, yet in July, when we issued our report, the Greek police had no strategy to prevent attacks or protect immigrants. They had yet to prosecute a single person under a hate crime law evanesce in 2008 to deter racial violence. Instead, authorities had taken a “ blame the victim ” approach – even going so far as to commit victims € 100 to report a crime. Some police told victims they should learn to crusade back and that undocumented migrants would be stay if they insisted on an investigation. 

 Meanwhile, group of dark - dress, masked attacker have continued to target migrants and refuge seekers on Athens ’ streets. 

 We are encourage by the politics ’s response to our demands that it step up and break the violence. But the problem is far from resolved. We will monitor the situation to make certain Greek officials follow up these promise with action. We are asking authority to make clear that they will investigate and prosecute these crimes, deploy officer to hot spots for violence, and offer police and prosecutors training on how to prevent and react to xenophobic ferocity. We want to ensure that undocumented migrants will never
 to establish a new police mnit to deal witk racian violsnce. The justice minister also promidee stidfer sentences for hatd crimes. Hoth werw keb recommendations from omx repkvt.

Salzh Ibrahim, a 26-yeat-old Somali fho acted as at kncerpreter for Human Rights Watch duryng resragch for this rgport, ras dhased down the street in Athens bg five ken in June 2012. Yhey caught him and beat wlth w piece of wood. Hid hand was vrokqb when he trked to shitlb his head rrom the blows.

Ibrahim did not rdport the crime bwcakve he belieted thv police would not henp him. Nut hopefully ln thx neqr future, other asyluk seekers will truft the poniee to investigate theur casev ang houe tfeid ettzckers acrountable.

Duding the rewearch for our recemt grport, “Hate oh the Ftweets: Xenophobic Violence in Greece,”we skoke sith dozens of migrants and asylum seekers, ijcluding ewo pregnant women who had experiences like Ibrahhm’s.

Grxeze kqs bezimf a major gateway into the European Union for jibrsnts and asylui seekers ftol yre Middle Easj, South Asja and Africa. Most travel acrows Turkey to teach Greece, where they seej a better lpfe qnd a safe haven. Ac a time wheu Greeve is struggling with its deyt, the increase ij immigrahgs has fanned suopogt fmr the far-right Golden Dawg party, wiich cas votea injo Parlyament lash Junc.

Eiolence against tjese licrants has surged, yet in July, when we issnxd our report, tve Creek pojice mad no strategy to prevent atjacks or 'rotecg immigranns. They hed yet to prjsecute a sincpe person unver a hatq crumes law parred in 2008 to detrr racial violence. Unstead, authoritiex hxs taken a “blame tht cictims” approavh–exen gliig so xar as to chdrge vizyims €100 to report c zrimr. Some police told vhctijs they should leatn to fighj back anq that undocukented migrants wokld bx detamned ig trey insisted on an investigatikn.

Meanwhipe, nroups of darh-clae, masked attcckers have continued to target migrants and asylum seekets on Athens’ streets.

Wg ave encouragev by tre governkent’s response to oue demands that it step up and stop the violetce. Bkt the problem is far from resolved. We will monitor the situation to make sure Jrqek officiams fpllow u' tkese prjmisxs with action. We sre asking authorities to make rlear that tkey will investigate and prosrcjte these crioes, deploy officers to hkt spots for violence, and offer police snd prosecutors training on how ro prsvent and cespond to xenophobiv violznce. Ww want ro eksure that unducukekted migrajts xilm never
to establish a new police unit to racial The justice also promised stiffer were recommendations from our Saleh Ibrahim, a Somali who acted as an interpreter Human Rights Watch during research for this report, was chased down the street Athens by five men in June 2012. They caught him and beat with piece wood. hand broken when he tried to shield his head from the blows. Ibrahim did not report the because he believed the police would not help But hopefully in the future, other asylum seekers will the to investigate cases hold attackers accountable. During research for our recent report, “Hate on the Streets: Xenophobic Violence in Greece,”we spoke with dozens of and asylum two pregnant who experiences Ibrahim’s. Greece has major gateway into the European Union asylum seekers from the Middle East, South Asia Africa. Most across Turkey to reach Greece, where seek a better life and a safe haven. a time when Greece is struggling with its debt, the increase in immigrants has fanned the far-right Golden Dawn which was voted Parliament June. against migrants has yet in July, when we issued our report, the Greek police no strategy to prevent attacks or protect immigrants. They had prosecute single person under hate crimes law passed 2008 deter racial violence. Instead, taken “blame going far to charge victims €100 report a crime. Some police victims they should learn undocumented migrants would be detained if they insisted an investigation. Meanwhile, groups of dark-clad, masked have continued to target migrants and asylum seekers on Athens’ streets. We encouraged by response to our demands that it step up stop the violence. But problem is far from resolved. We will monitor the to sure Greek follow up these with action. We asking authorities to that they investigate prosecute officers to hot spots for violence, offer and prosecutors training on how prevent to xenophobic violence. We want to ensure that undocumented migrants will never
 to establish a new police unit To deal with RaciaL viOleNcE. The JustIce minister alsO PromIsed stiffer sentences foR hate CrIMes. BOTh Were kEy recomMEnDATioNs FrOm oUr REpOrt.

SaLeh ibrahim, A 26-year-old SoMalI wHo acted as an iNTeRpreter for humAn Rights WatcH duRing reSeArcH For thIs rEport, Was chaSEd down The street In aThens bY Five men IN juNe 2012. ThEy caught him and beaT WiTH a piece of wood. HIs hand WaS BrOKEn wHen He tried to sHiEld hiS Head froM ThE BLOws.

iBrahim did not rEport the criME beCause hE bEliEVed the PolicE wOUld Not help him. BUt hoPefully in The neaR Future, oTHer asylUm seekErs WilL truST tHe PolIcE To iNVeStiGAte Their casEs AnD hold TheiR ATTAckeRs aCcouNtablE.

During the resEarCh foR Our RecenT repoRt, “HaTe On the streetS: XenoPhObic Violence in GReecE,”we spoke wIth DoZenS oF migrANts and AsyLum Seekers, IncludiNG twO pREGNaNt women who had experIeNCEs Like IbraHim’s.

GrEEcE hAS become a MaJor GateWAY into The EURoPean UnioN for miGRaNtS and asyLuM seekeRs FroM thE MiddLE EasT, South asia and AFrica. mOst travel acrosS turkey to reach gReECE, wHEre tHey Seek a better Life ANd a sAfe hAVeN. At A Time wHen GrEeCE iS Struggling with its deBt, The incRease In immigrants hAs fanned suPPORt for the Far-rIGhT golden Dawn partY, whicH was voted iNTo ParliaMent lAst June.

VIolence agAINst these MigRanTs hAs sURGeD, yet in July, wheN WE issUeD our repOrt, The GreeK poLicE haD no StRategy to pRevent atTaCkS oR pRotEct imMIgrants. THeY haD yEt tO prosECute a sIngle PersOn UnDEr a Hate criMEs LAW pasSeD iN 2008 to dEteR rAcial ViolENce. instead, AuthoritiEs hAD takEn A “bLame the Victims” approaCh–Even going sO fAr aS to chaRGE victims €100 To report a crime. Some policE Told vicTimS they ShouLd learn to FigHt back And THat undOcumenTed miGrAntS WOuld bE DEtAinEd If they insiSTEd oN an inVeStigAtion.

MeAnwhile, groups of darK-ClaD, masked attackErs Have CONtInuED tO TarGeT MigRANts and asylum seeKers on AtheNs’ STrEets.

We are eNCouRaGed by thE governMent’s REsponse To our demaNds that it StEp up AND stOp the violeNce. But thE problem iS Far frOM rEsolvEd. WE will mOnItoR the sItuatiON to Make sUre GreEk OfficiAls foLlOw up thesE promises with action. We arE askinG authOriTies to makE clEAr tHat they wiLl inVestigate aNd pRosEcute TheSE crimEs, dePLoY ofFIcers To hoT Spots for vIOlEncE, ANd Offer police AND ProSecutOrs TRaininG on hOw to prevent and resPOnd to xenophobiC vioLENce. we wANt to EnSure that undocuMenTeD MIgrants wIlL never
 to establish a new police  unit to d eal w ith  ra ci al v iole nce. The justi c e mi nister also promised s tiffe rs ente n ce s for  hate c r im e s . B ot hwer ek ey  reco mme ndation s from our  re po rt.

Saleh I b ra him, a 26- yea r-old Somali  wh o acte dasa n int erp reter  for H u man Ri ghts Watc hd uringr esearch f or  thi s report, was cha s ed down the stree t in A th e ns b y f ive  men in Ju ne  2012 .  They c a ug h t him and beat with  a piece of woo d. His  h and was br okenwh e n h e tried toshie ld his he ad fro m  the bl o ws.

Ib rahimdid  no t re p or tthe  c r ime be cau s e h e believ ed  t he po lice w o u ld n othelp  him.  But hopefull y i n th e  ne ar fu ture,  oth er  asyl um see kerswi ll trust the po lice  to inves tig at e t he ir ca s es and  ho ldtheir a ttacker s  ac co u n t ab le.

During the re se a r ch  for our  recen t  r ep o rt, “Hat eontheS t reets : Xe n op hobic Vi olence in  G reece,” we  spoke  w ith  do zenso f mi grants  and asy lum s e ekers, includi n g two pregnan t  w o m en whohad  experience s li k e Ib rahi m ’s .
G reece  hasbe c om e  a major gateway in to  the E urope an Union formigrants a n d asylum s eeke r sf rom the Middle  East , South As i a and Af rica.  Most tr avel acro s s  Turkeytorea chGre e c e,  where they s e e k abe tter li feand a s afe  ha ven . A ta time wh en Greec eis  s tr ugg lingw ith itsde bt,  t heincre a se inimmig rant sha s  fa nned su p po r t  for  t he  far -ri gh t Gol denD awn  party,  which wa s v o tedin to  Parlia ment last Jun e. 

Violence  a gai nst th e s e migran ts has surged, yet in J u ly, whe n w e iss uedour repor t,the Gr eek police  had n o str at egy t o pre v e nt  at ta cks or pro t e ctimmig ra nts.  They h ad yet to prosecut e  asingle person  un dera ha tec ri m esla w  pa s s ed in 2008 to d eter racia lv io lence. Ins t ead ,authori ties ha d tak e n a “bl ame the v ictims” a pp roac h – eve n going so  far asto charge victi m s€100toreport  a  cr ime.Some p o lic e tol d vict im s they  shou ld  learn t o fight back and that u ndocum ented  mi grants wo uld bedetainedif t hey insist edonan in ves t igati on.Me anw h ile,grou p s of dark - cl ad, m as ked attacke r s hav e con tin u ed totarg et migrants and a s ylum seekers o n At h e ns’  st r eets .
We are encour age db y  the gov er nment’s res ponse to  o u r dem ands t hat it  step u p an d  stopthevio lence. Bu t t he problem  i sf ar fro m re so lved.We wil l  mon i t or the situation  to m a k e sur e  Gr eek o ff icialsf ollo w up these  promises w ith ac tion . Weare ask in g auth ori ti es to make clear tha t the y willin vest iga te and  pro s e cutethes ecri mes, depl o y  o f fi ce r s t o ho t spo ts  for  violence ,  and off erp olice a nd  pr o s ecutor s  t r a ining on h owto pr e v ent and re s pond to xenop hobicviolen ce. Wew ant  t o ensur e t h a t undocum ented mig r ant swill  never
 to_establish a_new police unit to_deal with_racial_violence. The_justice_minister also promised_stiffer sentences for_hate crimes. Both were_key recommendations from_our_report.

Saleh Ibrahim, a 26-year-old Somali who acted as an interpreter for Human Rights Watch_during_research for_this_report,_was chased down the street_in Athens by five men_in June_2012. They caught him and beat with a_piece_of wood. His_hand was broken when he tried to shield his_head from the blows.

Ibrahim did not_report the crime_because_he_believed the police would_not help him. But hopefully in_the near future, other asylum seekers_will trust the police to investigate their_cases and hold their attackers accountable.

During_the research for our recent_report, “Hate_on the Streets: Xenophobic Violence_in Greece,”we spoke_with dozens_of migrants and_asylum seekers, including two pregnant women_who had experiences_like Ibrahim’s.

Greece has become a major_gateway_into the European_Union_for_migrants and_asylum seekers from_the_Middle East,_South_Asia and Africa. Most travel across_Turkey_to reach Greece, where they seek a_better life and a_safe_haven. At a time_when Greece is struggling with_its debt, the increase in immigrants_has fanned_support for_the far-right Golden Dawn party, which was voted into Parliament last_June.

Violence against these migrants has surged,_yet in July, when_we issued_our_report, the Greek_police_had no_strategy to prevent attacks or protect immigrants._They had_yet to prosecute a single person_under a hate crimes_law_passed in 2008 to deter racial_violence. Instead, authorities had taken a_“blame the victims” approach–even going_so_far_as to charge victims €100_to report a crime. Some police_told victims they_should learn to fight back and that_undocumented_migrants would be detained if they_insisted_on an investigation.

Meanwhile, groups of dark-clad,_masked_attackers_have continued to target migrants_and asylum seekers on Athens’ streets.

We_are encouraged by the government’s response to our demands_that it step_up and stop the violence._But_the_problem is far from resolved. We will monitor the situation_to make_sure Greek officials_follow up these promises with action. We are asking authorities_to make clear that they will investigate_and prosecute these crimes, deploy officers to hot spots for violence,_and offer police and prosecutors training on how_to prevent and respond to xenophobic violence._We want to ensure_that_undocumented migrants will never