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. Starting July 1, 2026, SAR no longer publishes reports for the incidents that it records. SAR continues to monitor and record incidents that will be used in the annual Free to Think report. This page provides a record of incidents reported up to that date. Learn more about the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.

Date of Incident: October 10, 2024

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Region & Country:Europe | Greece

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On October 10, 2024, students and police clashed at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki during a protest demanding health and safety measures and increased funding for universities. Five students were arrested.

During the early afternoon, dozens of students gathered outside of the Faculty of Philosophy to demonstrate for stronger safety measures after an elevator crashed in a student dormitory the previous day.

The rector was attempting to leave an event that had taken place inside the Faculty when protesters blocked his exit from the building. The rector and students engaged in a contentious exchange. After the rector requested support from the Units for the Reinstatement of Order–a special division of Greece’s national Hellenic Police department–and riot police that were stationed on campus, a clash erupted between the protesters and police. Police escorted the rector off campus safely, and arrested five students.

Video of the building after the protest shows the front windows of the Philosophy building shattered.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force during a student protest. While state authorities have the responsibility to maintain order and prevent disruption, they must refrain from the disproportionate use of force and endangerment of civilians and must respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Students and members of the public must refrain from violence, especially on campus, and also respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Such actions, beyond harming the immediate victims, have a chilling effect on academic freedom.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://en.protothema.gr/2024/10/10/auth-crisis-students-lock-in-rector-police-force-intervened/
https://www.xalkidikipolitiki.com/%CE%B1%CF%83%CF%84%CF%85%CE%BD%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%B9%CF%87%CE%B5%CE%AF%CF%81%CE%B7%CF%83%CE%B7-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BD-%CE%B1%CF%80%CE%B5%CE%B3%CE%BA%CE%BB/
https://www.thenewspaper.gr/2024/10/10/entasi-sto-apth-epemvasi-tis-astynomias-meta-apo-diamartyria-foititon-ston-prytani/#google_vignette
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAxttxosN40