Is it just me, or is clouding becoming our national sport? The inherent exaggeration of the distorted reality on social media certainly plays a decisive role in this phenomenon, but still, what happens each time is impressive, as if it’s the first.
Thirteen months ago, Greece was shocked to realise that moving within a stable orbit is far from as safe as we thought, that we live by luck, and that the state mechanism is not trustworthy.
Over time, we confirmed that the system will do everything to protect itself, and that power and wealth take precedence over justice.
Last Tuesday, we woke up to the realisation that the Greek police are only useful for suppressing protests and issuing fines, and that they are incapable of protecting a vulnerable citizen even when they are right in front of them, inside a police station.
And because the word “police” represents an entire systemic institution, we can think that it consists of individuals.
Individuals who may not be callous or indifferent, but cannot adequately perform their basic duty. Either due to mindset, beliefs, or lack of framework.
In any case, the shock was profound because the loud message that comes out of the whole issue, although eloquent, clear, and understandable, is somewhat blunt: if you are a victim of abuse, tough luck, because nothing will save you.
At least the police or authorities won’t. So, you have choices: endure it, hide and avoid it as much as you can, or take the law into your own hands.
The related visual and audio material from the incident that circulated everywhere, a symptom of our times, doesn’t expose the police along with the problem and thus does not create any conditions for improvement. Instead, it rather emphasises it, intensifying its loud, toxic message.
I am not one of those people who consider a woman’s life more significant and valuable than that of a man.
However, the borderline absurd reaction of so many people, organisations, and institutions against the term “femicide”, not merely in its legal entrenchment, but even in its plain use, fully confirms and justifies the term’s existence.
Beyond legally entrenching the term, it is even more important to systematically cultivate a culture of gender respect – of all genders. In fact, this is the aim, and when significant progress is made in this direction, the term may not even be necessary.
Since the summer of 2022, Cyprus has introduced the specific crime of femicide, which carries a life imprisonment sentence.
So many innocent women have paved the way with their blood to get there, with the climax being the shocking, mass murders of “Orestis”. Naturally, the criminalisation and limitation of the possibility of the perpetrator escaping with a light sentence by invoking “passion” and a burst of mental impulse, is a decisive step in the right direction.
However, over time, the law’s effectiveness will be seen, which must be accompanied by a broader, systematic effort of social awareness aiming to shake the prevailing patriarchal mindset.
In Greece, however, the persistent chronic situation not only of covering up but also of encouraging and reproducing gender crimes will inevitably lead to new crimes of this type. The only thing left to see is how the next perpetrator will devise to surprise and shock us again.
As long as the recycling of stereotypes and toxic models continues in public discourse, instigated by representatives of the state and the clergy, and more generally people of influence, the police will continue to act as a “traffic cop” in crimes.
In this case, the 28-year-old woman from Agioi Anargyroi did nothing wrong. She did not remain silent; she tried to protect herself as the protocol dictates.
She distanced herself from the threatening person, appealed to the authorities, sought protection. Previously, she had left him, reported him, avoided him.
What else was she supposed to do? Change country? As it turned out, this would have been her only saving choice.
Her case may have “spoiled” the narrative of known reactionary supporters of patriarchy (not that they will struggle to find another narrative), but this did not save her life.
And if 1-2 policemen are punished, just for show, the problem is not solved.
You cannot eradicate an entire mindset by attributing criminal responsibilities and invoking protocols. There is an uphill road that we must traverse.
And we haven’t even taken the first forward step yet. Because we keep going backwards.
