‘We denounce the arrests of citizens of our island by the police forces under the pretext of identity checks and their unjustified detention at Ermoupolis Police Station, as well as the climate of terror that has prevailed since the morning throughout the city centre, with the presence of strong police forces,’ the KKE of Syros said in a statement.
‘There has already been a telephone intervention by Nikolas Kailis, member of the KKE’s North-Western Sectoral Committee and head of Laiki Syspirosi, and Pavlos Chrysafidis, municipal councillor with Laiki Syspirosi, to the mayor of Syros-Ermoupolis, requesting his intervention for the immediate release of the citizens,’ the party added.
A riot police van was stationed at the port, preventing pro-Palestine solidarity activists protesting against the arrival of Israeli tourists on the island from approaching the ship. Photos published by Cyclades24 also show police patrol cars inside the port.
The ship docked at around 8am, while the first mobilisation was under way. Before the protest, four citizens were taken to the police station for checks. According to Cyclades.gr, under a special plan implemented by the Coast Guard, the Israeli passengers left the cruise ship pier in groups and proceeded to Ermoupolis without any problems.
A police-state atmosphere prevailed on the island, with the Hellenic Police banning citizens from moving freely in central parts of Syros due to the arrival of the Crown Iris, citing the risk of ‘disruption to the socio-economic life of the specific area’
Specifically, police banned any march in the area enclosed by the streets of St Proiou, Chiou, Kea, Ladopoulou, Agios Nikolaos, Apollonos, Kalomenopoulou, Evangelistrias, Odysseus, K. Karamanlis, Georgiou Gennimata, M. Mercouri, Kotsovili, Petros Protopapadakis, Vokotopoulou, Andreas Drakakis, Antiparos, Gravia, Vikelas, Klonos, Andros, Kyparissos, Mykonos, Milos, El. Venizelou, Emmanouil Roidis, Georgiou Souris and Thymaton Sperchiou.
However, residents of Syros have not backed down. A new protest gathering is scheduled for 2pm at Miaouli Square in Ermoupolis, Syros. Police have called on demonstrators at Miaouli Square to remain exclusively within the square.
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