Prosecutor Syrmo Kakali of Thessaloniki’s Court of First Instance intervened following a decision by the Parents and Guardians Association of the elementary school of Oraiokastro to stage a sit-in at the school. The parents decided to stage the occupation as a protest against the entry of refugees and migrants from the nearby camp to their children’s school – the 5th Primary School of Melissohori.
Oraiokastro Mayor Asterios Gavotsis also made comments that are being probed for having racist content. Gavotsis now says that his statements have been taken out of context. He claims that they had the opposite meaning of what they are given.
Kakali referred the cases to the Prosecutor responsible for racist crime, Christos Tolias, so that a preliminary inquiry could begin in order to refer the case to the Court of Misdemeanours. An investigation is likely to take place by the Department of Racist Violence of the Thessaloniki police force.
The General Secretary of the Secretariat of Transparency and Human Rights, Kostis Papaioannou, has expressed his concern regarding the mayor’s statements. He said that legal action can be taken according to Law 927/1979 that foresees social and legal action of public persons who promote violence, discrimination and hate.
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