European court rules against Greece over journalist strip-search
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled against Greece over the degrading treatment of a photojournalist who was strip-searched at an Athens police headquarters in 2013.
The case concerns Kalliopi Melliou, who was stopped by members of the DELTA police motorcycle unit in Athens’ Exarchia district on Feb. 27, 2013, after noting the license plate numbers of police officers she encountered while walking home.
Melliou was taken to the Attica General Police Directorate for identification but was not arrested or formally charged with an offense.
Court rejects justification for search
At the police headquarters, Melliou provided identification and handed over the note containing the license plate numbers. A female police officer was then ordered to search her and required her to remove all her clothing, including her underwear.
Greek authorities argued before the Strasbourg court that there had been serious suspicions Melliou was involved in preparing a terrorist act and that the search was necessary to establish whether she was carrying dangerous objects.
The court rejected the justification, finding that Greek authorities had not considered less intrusive measures and that there was insufficient evidence of a connection between the strip-search and the prevention of crime or disorder.
The court also emphasized that Melliou had been taken to police headquarters solely for identification and had never been arrested or formally detained.
The court unanimously found that Greece had violated Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits inhuman or degrading treatment.
The ruling awarded Melliou €10,000 in damages and €875 for legal costs.
The decision underscores the court’s finding that intrusive police measures must be justified by a sufficiently strong need and carried out with regard to the dignity of the person concerned.
Source:Kathimerini
