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In a shocking turn of events, Greek authorities have urgently ordered an investigation into the fatal stabbing of a 28-year-old woman just outside an Athens police precinct, where she had previously requested protection from a former boyfriend. This chilling incident has ignited calls from left-wing opposition parties for the recognition of “femicide” – the gender-motivated killing of women or girls – as a distinct term within Greece’s criminal code.

The tragic incident occurred mere yards away from the Aghii Anargyri police station, prompting Michalis Chrisochoidis, the minister overseeing the police, to promise a “full, in-depth” probe into the circumstances surrounding the killing. With a sense of urgency, he emphasized that the investigation must be concluded within “a very few days, hours even.”

According to a police statement, the victim had visited the precinct with a friend, reporting that her 39-year-old ex-boyfriend, who had a history of abusive behavior towards her, had been lurking outside her home. Although she asked for a patrol car to escort her home, she declined to file a formal complaint, and was thus instructed to phone the police emergency line to request a vehicle.

As the victim exited the precinct, she made the call, only to be brutally attacked by her former partner moments later. The assailant, now under police guard while receiving treatment in a psychiatric hospital, allegedly stabbed her to death before intentionally injuring himself with the weapon.

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou expressed her shock and anger at the murder, emphasizing the “urgent responsibility authorities have to fight gender-based violence and crime.” The police have claimed that their force is trained to respond to such violence, adhering to regularly updated protocols. Whether these protocols were followed during the incident is under examination.

While Chrisichoidis expressed support for the opposition parties’ criminal code reform, he noted that the issue should be approached with a “serious and calm debate” led by legal experts.

This appalling case of femicide marks the sixth reported occurrence in Greece during 2023, with 15 incidents reported the previous year. The urgency for systemic change is apparent, and the importance of addressing such gender-based violence cannot be understated. Only through thorough investigation, reflection, and reform can we hope to take decisive steps forward in the fight against the mounting tide of femicide and gender-based violence, and work diligently to protect those most at risk.