ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A leading human rights organization is urging Greece's new government to take "urgent action" to curb an "alarming" increase in attacks against Asian and African immigrants, including brutal assaults by gangs on teenage boys and pregnant women.
People face certainly the risk of an attack on a daily basis, Judith Sunderland, the lead researcher and author of the report told The Associated Press.
In Athens, many immigrants live crammed in small apartments in squalid conditions, in central neighborhoods that have seen a sharp rise in crime since the financial crisis began in late 2009.
Racially-motivated attacks, including raids on immigrants' homes and stores as well as streets assaults, have surged in the past two years, and often follow public outcry over a violent crime blamed on immigrants, the report said.
In recent general elections, the far-right Golden Dawn party — which uses aggressive rhetoric against immigrants, and has been described by political opponents as neo-Nazi — won 18 seats in the 300-member parliament.
Sunderland, who is meeting this week with Greece's top prosecutor and senior government law enforcement and justice officials, said Human Rights Watch was concerned that extremist rhetoric was entering mainstream politics.
People face certainly the risk of an attack on a daily basis, Judith Sunderland, the lead researcher and author of the report told The Associated Press.
In Athens, many immigrants live crammed in small apartments in squalid conditions, in central neighborhoods that have seen a sharp rise in crime since the financial crisis began in late 2009.
Racially-motivated attacks, including raids on immigrants' homes and stores as well as streets assaults, have surged in the past two years, and often follow public outcry over a violent crime blamed on immigrants, the report said.
In recent general elections, the far-right Golden Dawn party — which uses aggressive rhetoric against immigrants, and has been described by political opponents as neo-Nazi — won 18 seats in the 300-member parliament.
Sunderland, who is meeting this week with Greece's top prosecutor and senior government law enforcement and justice officials, said Human Rights Watch was concerned that extremist rhetoric was entering mainstream politics.
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