Freedom for Dimitra, Marianna and all accused in the Ampelokipi case!
What happened?
On October 31, 2024, an explosion occurred in an apartment in the Ampelokipi district of Athens, killing our comrade Kiriakos Xymitris and seriously injuring our comrade Marianna. As a result, our friend and comrade Dimitra was arrested at the airport in Athens on November 4, 2024 and has been in custody at Korydallos Prison in Athens ever since. Other comrades, Dimitris, Nikos, A. K., as well as the seriously injured Marianna were also taken into custody by the Greek state. The reasons for the arrests of the companions in the apartment explosion case are flimsy – it seems as if the Greek state needs the arrests in order to construct an association.
Dimitra is not only active in various global anarchist struggles, but has also been part of local feminist, anti-colonial and anti-racist struggles in Bern in recent years. She has also always stood up for the liberation of all oppressed people – especially for the liberation of Palestine. Dimitra always fought with fire and her desire for a free world in her heart, recognizing the urgency to act. As a result, she has always been able to drive struggles and projects and continues to do so, even through the prison walls.
Nevertheless, her arrest leaves a gap in Bern – she is missing locally as part of the political movement and she is missing as a friend.
How did they end up in pre-trial custody?
Dimitra is in pre-trial detention on the basis of shaky evidence with which an attempt is being made to construct an association. She is accused of forming and participating in a terrorist organization under the Greek paragraph 187A. The anti-terrorism law allows the authorities to apply harsh repression on the basis of vague evidence and vague suspicions. As in other cases, “terrorist” or “criminal” associations are constructed in order to criminalize friendships, solidarity and resistant ideas. The accusation of terrorism is repeatedly used by the state to delegitimize and criminalize political action and to deter society. But we will not allow ourselves to be divided – we stand united in solidarity behind our comrades.
Miserable prison conditions
After our comrade Marianna was seriously injured in the explosion, she was taken to hospital for surgery. While she was still unconscious, the cops took her fingerprints and blood for DNA samples. Under strict isolation and surveillance, Marianna was not guaranteed the slightest privacy, the cops did not leave her unobserved for a moment 24/7 – even during intimate medical examinations. Just one day after the second operation, she was transferred to the severely overcrowded Korydallos prison. The hygienic conditions there are appalling, there is no infirmary and not even the most basic medical care is guaranteed.
These conditions affect not only Marianna, but all prisoners, but her state of health poses a great risk to her under the poor conditions.
What now? Why is it important to keep fighting?
With Kyriakos, we have lost a passionate comrade-in-arms. His death leaves a gap in anarchist struggles. But one thing is certain: Kyriakos will not be forgotten. We will continue to take his struggles to the streets and fight all the harder and more tirelessly for a society based on solidarity and a world without exploitation and oppression!
For us, continuing Kyriakos’ struggles also means not accepting the imprisonment of our comrades Dimitra, Marianna and all the others.
The Greek state must take back its absurd terror construct!
As long as people are locked up and our companions are behind bars, their health care and the mental and physical well-being of the prisoners must be guaranteed!
The pre-trial detention of Dimitra, Marianna and all other defendants must be ended!
Solidarity is our weapon – let’s use it.
Show solidarity in various forms. Stay informed, talk to your friends and comrades about the arrests.
Unfortunately, repression and legal proceedings cost a lot of money. If you can, donate money, ask other people for donations or organize solidarity events to raise money.
Distribute flyers, put up posters, keep the case present on the streets.
Let Dimitra, Marianna and the other prisoners participate in your struggles and make them feel that they are not alone.
Write letters and postcards.
Against all prisons and a society that needs them
Kyriakos unforgotten
Until we walk together again