Agios Pandeleimon (Athens)

Agios Pandeleimon , also Agios Panteleimon or Agios Panteleimonas ( Greek Άγιος Παντελεήμονας ) is a district of the Greek capital Athens .

Agios Pandeleimon is in the area around the church of the same name about two kilometers north of the city center, one kilometer north of the National Archaeological Museum and is divided by the Acharnon Street.

The district, in the southern part of which is Viktoriaplatz with the Viktoria subway station , has been a magnet for asylum seekers and immigrants from Afghanistan and other countries in Asia and Africa who have found accommodation in overcrowded apartments in run-down houses. The apartments are mostly rented by "legalized" asylum seekers. The migrants also camped on the steps of the church and in the playground in front of it. In November 2008 and in spring 2009 the tensions between the local residents and immigrants caused by the formation of the ghetto erupted in demonstrations and the attempt to "clear" the area in front of the church. Right-wing extremists mingled with the demonstrators and indiscriminately attacked migrants. Autonomous people came to the aid of the migrants . The violent clashes were stopped by the police using tear gas, and several people were injured.

The pastor of the church, Agios Panteleimon, faced severe criticism for alleviating the plight of the migrants by providing meals and clothing; he was forced to stop this support.

After the change of government in October 2009, the Greek Ministry of the Interior intends to employ immigrants as civilian employees of the police station in Agios Pandeleimon (later also in other police stations), who will be used as interpreters and mediators.

In May 2011, violent xenophobic riots broke out again after a Greek was killed in a robbery.

Single receipts

1. ↑ ^{a b} "The indifference of the state drove people to the streets" In: Eleftherotypia , June 13, 2009.
2. ↑ Greece & Immigration part I: Agios Panteleimonas
3. ↑ Background: "Greece's immigrants - a humanitarian drama"
4. ↑ Swiss television, Tagesschau from November 24, 2008: "Street battle in Athens"
5. ↑ In.gr "Tensions in Agios Panteleimon" (Greek) ( Memento of the original from June 14, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
6. ^ Photo report from Eleftherotypia from July 8, 2009
7. ↑ RIEAS Research Institute for European and American Studies: Immigration to Greece
8. ↑ Zeit.de of May 11, 2011: "Assaults against migrants in Athens"

Coordinates: 37 ° 59 ′ 48.1 ″  N , 23 ° 43 ′ 36.1 ″  E