The trial of Shehzad Luqman's killers began on December 18, 2013 and resumed yesterday at the Mixed Jury Court of Athens. Shehzad's attackers, both in their late twenties, were arrested immediately after the killing and confessed. Yet they maintain today that the murder was the result of an altercation; something that few believe with the murder bearing all the hallmarks of a cold-blooded and premeditated racist attack.

Shehzad Luqman was born in Pakistan in 1986 and had been living in Greece for six years. His friend Omar told the Greek newspaper Eleftherotypia in January 2013 that Shehzad had obtained a ‘pink card’ (issued to applicants for political asylum) and had been working in the farmers’ market, for the past month. “He was living a very difficult life,” Omar said. “He had eight siblings. He was earning 20 euros as a daily wage and he was sending the money to Pakistan to help his sisters get married. He was often saying that he would never manage to have his own family and live like a human being.” (link in Greek)

The following is what is written in the official police report listing the personal belongings found on Luqman after his murder:

In Nikea today, 17th of January of the year 2013, day of the week Thursday, and time 13:30, we, the undersigned police officers, took possession of the items listed below:
one (1) gold coloured good luck charm with a black string.
one (1) banknote of five (5) euros
one (1) NOKIA cellphone of black-grey-white colour
one (1) VODAFONE paycard of five (5) euros,
three (3) advertising cards writing “Avzotis Sunshades”
The above were the items found on Shahzad Luqman, son of Khadam Hussain and Sughran Bibi. 

Following the arrest of Luqman's attackers, searches were conducted of their homes where leaflets for neo-fascist party Golden Dawn were found, as well as weapons similar to those carried by the party’s organized vigilante groups that are believed to be behind hundreds of racist attacks in Athens and other Greek cities over the past few years. According to the victim’s family who are in Athens for the trial, it is evident that the murder of Shehzad Luqman was a cold-blooded attack that corresponds to racially motivated hit squads.

Lawyers acting for the two defendants have attempted to portray the crime as the result of an altercation that came about due to road-rage. However according to eyewitness testimony from the first day of the trial, two people present at the scene told the court that, although they did not actually see the killing happen, the first sounds they heard were Shehzad’s cries as he was stabbed and there was no indication of a prior argument. The pair who accosted the Pakistani immigrant were also said to have moved coolly and with purpose, abandoning him when he fell to the pavement bleeding.

Furthermore, while the defendants have attempted to distance themselves from Golden Dawn, many believe the killing of Shehzad Luqman was just one incident in a wider campaign of racially charged violence being waged by organized hit squads linked to the party, which is currently being investigated by authorities, throughout Greece.

According to the Racist Violence Recording Network:

“It is reminded that the Racist Violence Recording Network (RVRN) has recorded and analyzed more than 350 incidents of racist attacks since the beginning of its operation in 2011. According to the data that has been collected, the way in which this crime was carried out, the means that the perpetrators used, as well as their readiness to act, are similar to the modus operandi found in racist attacks committed by the so-called “organized hit squads”. Thus, this specific crime bears characteristics that classify it within the cycle of organized racist violence and criminality.

Furthermore, it is reminded that the RVRN had recorded the specific incident and had urged the Greek authorities to take measures for the adequate investigation of possible racist motives in the acts related to the criminal prosecution.

The Racist Violence Recording Network follows with great interest the course of the trial and expects that during the sentencing stage the court will take into account the aggravating circumstances provision of the Criminal Code [article 79(3)] referring to acts ‘caused by hatred due to race, skin color, religion, genealogical origins, national or ethnic origins, sexual orientation or gender identity’. “

The trial continues.