There are calls for femicide – the killing of women or girls with a gender-related motivation – to be recognised in Greece’s criminal code following the death of a 28-year-old woman outside an Athens police station.
Authorities ordered an investigation into the woman’s fatal stabbing not far from Aghii Anargyri police station, where she requested protection from an ex-boyfriend.
A police statement on Tuesday said the victim visited the station with a friend and reported that the 39-year-old man had been loitering outside her home.
She had made formal complaints in the past for abusive behaviour and state broadcaster ERT report that past abuse resulted in a miscarriage.
The statement read that she requested a patrol car to take her home for her protection, but because she declined to make a formal complaint, she was directed to phone the police emergency line to send a vehicle.
She made the call on her way out of the precinct but “while she was talking to a police operator she was suddenly attacked by her former partner, who fatally injured her with a knife.”
It is reported that the man turned the knife on himself. He appeared in court Tuesday and was transferred to the Psychiatric Hospital of Attica under police guard.
According to Kathimerini, the investigation has the removal of the chief officer on Wednesday.
Following that the duty officer, supervisor, her driver and the officer on the phone with the victim were suspended.
A released phone call disclosed police refusal to escort the woman home before her murder.
“Lady, police cars are not taxis,” the officer said before she filed the victim’s complaint.
Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou was shocked by the killing.
“The murder … yet another femicide, shakes and angers us,” she said in a statement.
“It shows … the urgent responsibility authorities have to fight gender-based violence and crime.”
The police statement said members of the force are trained to respond to gender-based violence, following protocols “that are constantly updated.”
“It must be examined to what extent these (protocols) were followed,” Minister of Citizen Protection of Greece Michalis Chrisichoidis said.
He added that while he supported the criminal code reform requested by opposition parties, it should follow a “serious and calm debate” by legal experts.
The Athens stabbing was the sixth femicide reported in Greece this year, with 15 reported in 2023.
With AP and Kathimerini*
