A mother of a 12-year-old girl in the city of Pyrgos, southwest Greece, has described what she says is the fear and anguish gripping her family following a fatal traffic accident in a nearby township, where a 17-year-old teenager of an adjacent Roma settlement was killed.
According to the mother, her daughter was followed by four women earlier in the month after attending a school blessing ceremony. She alleges that the four women shouted insults at the girl and threw stones, bottles and pieces of glass at her, apparently believing she was connected to the fatal accident.
The girl reportedly called her mother in tears, telling her: “Mom, come quickly, they’re chasing me.” She eventually reached a local business and sought help. When her mother arrived, one of the women allegedly accused her of being responsible for her brother’s death.
The woman categorically denies any involvement, saying she was not driving, does not own a car and was not at the accident scene.
The mother further alleges that threats were made against her and her children, including a threat to kill her daughter and burn down the family home. She says the family subsequently left their house temporarily because of fears for their safety.
Police were called and the mother and daughter were taken to the Pyrgos police station. The girl was reportedly in shock, trembling and crying following the incident. According to the report, the four women were subsequently sentenced to two months in prison, suspended for 15 months.
The mother has described the incident as “unprecedented” and “shocking,” saying she cannot understand how her name became associated with the accident or who provided her personal details to the women.
The four women were brought before a local court following the incident, and, according to the report, were each sentenced to two months in prison, with the sentences suspended for 15 months.
