L’État c’est Moi

BEATEN FOR TAKING THIS PICTURE, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Just found out my case against the cops that beat me for taking pictures of them during a peaceful demo was thrown out of court due to insufficient evidence. Obviously, five eye witnesses, video, photographs and a 10 page medical report are not enough. Next time I'll make sure I ask the b@stards their names.

Well, this is no more than to be expected, these guys have carte blanche (get out of jail free card for those not familiar with French) as far as the courts are concerned. Actually, I owe these guys a debt of thanks since the are the ones who really helped crystallise my political world view and turned a hobby into something more meaningful.

For more details on the case click here.

As seen on TV?

Tonight Greek TV (ET 1 at 10.00pm) will show a documentary made by the Reportage Horis Synora team (Reporting Without Borders) on police violence in Greece. When they were making the programme a film crew came up from Athens to interview me on my experiences at the hands of the riot police last September (see here for more details). For the dreadful crime of taking pictures of the police during a peaceful march I was attacked by them and detained. As a result I was left with a broken nose, dislocated shoulders and other various injuries that took up three pages in the medical report I received.

Still, compared with many other cases I got off lightly, I was released quickly and in the police department I was taken to (in an unmarked van with four uncover cops - not an experience I recommend) I was not beaten, which more than I can say for many.

A fugitive from justice

At long last my case against the riot police who attacked me in September simply for taking photos during a peaceful demonstration has shown signs of life. After spending a couple of months amassing evidence (including a doctor's report of my injuries that ran to more than two pages) I filed suit in December. This morning I found this taped to the front door of the apartment I live in.




Basically, it's a call to appear at the central police station within 48 hours or as it says I'll be taken there forcibly and fined the grand, if prosaic, sum of 14.67 Euros. Just one problem the date underneath is 18/01/2007 so technically I'm an outlaw subject to violent detention if caught.

UPDATE

Looks like I made a mistake in my translation as I have to go to the central courts and not the police station (got my megaros/halls mixed up). Phew!!!!!!!!!

For a full account of what happened click here.

For photos click here.