SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Learn more.

Date of Incident: June 04, 2022

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):University of West Attica

Region & Country:Europe | Greece

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On June 4, 2022, a group of unidentified armed individuals disrupted an event at the University of West Attica, where they assaulted students.

The Panhellenic Independent Student Movement (PANKS) organized a charity event on campus to support Ukrainian refugees. Just before the event began, a group of unidentified individuals wearing helmets and armed with bats and crowbars reportedly entered the event space, assaulted students, and destroyed equipment, resulting in the cancellation of the event. More than five students were reportedly injured.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about a violent attack on students in an apparent effort to restrict a nonviolent campus event. State and university authorities have a responsibility to take all reasonably available actions to prevent and respond to such attacks, including investigating and holding perpetrators responsible. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, violent attacks on campus undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://www.msn.com/el-gr/news/national/επιδρομή-αναρχικών-σε-φοιτητικό-πάρτι/ar-AAY9EeZ?li=BBqxRPi
https://www.thriassio.gr/kataggelia-gia-epithesi-me-ropala-enantion-foititon-sto-panepistimio-dytikis-attikis/
https://www.foititikanea.gr/πανεπιστήμια/πανεπιστήμιο-δυτικής-αττικής/26531-επίθεση-αναρχικών-με-κράνη-και-ρόπαλα-σε-φοιτητές-στο-παδα