A statement of self-criticism and self-punishment
a statement of self-criticism and self-punishment
I hope it is not too late, but now is the time to face some issues, and take responsibility and criticize myself. Although these issues have not yet been made public, I intend to take the initiative myself and address these issues publicly. Patriarchy is a culture, we cannot change this culture only by removing people, but trying to change people (if these people are open to change) can bring about cultural change. I hope that I will be an example so that other people who are in a similar situation to me, instead of denying everything, admit their mistakes and change.
From the beginning, I have to say that I don't intend to blame the victims but I intend to take responsibility and understand my behaviors, which considered problematic. For those who aren't informed, I have been accused for rape and sexual harassment; These accusations have been made by some persons (women) who are active in the anarchist space of greece. Out of respect for the privacy of these individuals, I do not intend to go into too much detail, as I am aware that what I say may offend them further, amd I don't want that. It is a patriarchal culture that always strongly denies these accusations, but I, as an anti-sexist, do not intend to. It is the behavior of the state that oppresses the victims, and I, as an anarchist, do not intend this. I want to learn from my mistakes and not repeat them again. Today I accept this very difficult responsibility and publish the accusations against myself. I want the victims and comrades to know that I remember my mistakes, and I have realized them. And I apologize to the victims.
On April 2020, I was informed by some comrades that a [person Y] has been claimed that she was raped by me. In the beginning I denied such a accusation, and tried to find out more information. Even I tried to meet this with this [person Y] again, but unfortunately it never happened, so I never heard rape accusation from this [person Y] by myself (I have meet this [person Y], and in that time she just accused me for sexist behavior). About the rape accusation all I knew was the information that I got it from comrades around of me. A few weeks after the accusation was made, I was forced to leave Greece due to the cancellation of my political asylum by the Greek regime. Fleeing me from Greece caused me to be completely get out from the anarchist space of Greece, and not being able to know enough about what was going on. I arrived in the Netherlands in July 2020, and a few months after arriving in the Netherlands, I began my political activity in the Dutch anarchist space. Although I was aware of a rape charge, I hid it from my comrades and did not tell them anything. That was a mistake, and I am ready to take responsibility for such a mistake.
As I am in danger of being extradited to Greece in the Netherlands, this has led to the publication of information about my case in the international anarchist spaces. Following the news of my extradition case in the international anarchist spaces, some people informed comrades in the Netherlands about the rape accusation on me. After Dutch comrades were informed about such a accusation, the dutch comrades invited me to a meeting on this accusation, and in this meeting I claimed that I am completely unaware of this accusation, which was not true because I was aware of this accusation. To be honest, I did not know much about the details because of what I explained at the beginning, but I knew about the accusation and I hid it. That was a mistake, I wasn't enough honest with my comrades, and I am ready to take responsibility for that. Over the past few months, many political groups and individuals have defended and supported my political activities and my extradition case. These groups and individuals had no knowledge of the truth of this accusation against me, these groups and individuals are not to blame. Therefore, no one should blame these groups and individuals. All the responsibility is with me and all is my fault.
Last month, some comrades and individuals from the Netherlands traveled to Greece to spend their summer holidays in Greece. During this trip, these comrades and individuals realized the truth of the existence of accusation against me, and heard even more accusations against me, including sexual harassment.
Intentionally I never intended to rape or sexually harass someone, for me in the sexual stuffs, always no means no. But sometimes we hurt others without understanding it, so at the moment it doesn't matter what was my intention since these victims felt it as rape and sexual harassment. I believe them and I want to be in solidarity with them as well.
As taking responsibility and having self-punishment for the accusations and my mistakes, I completely leave the political movement, and during this period of time I'll work on myself and will try to change more towards a better person; I hope the movement will give me a chance in future to be able to come back.
[edit: chunk of text deleted on explicit request by concerned person for privacy reasons]
Probably the majority of comrades in the Greek political space are aware of my political activities, political positions and attitudes, something that has shaped my activity in the Greek political space over the years. These incidents led to political and violent clashes with some sections of the Greek anarchist space, and in fact created many individuals, political groups and positions against me and my political activity. To be clear, I have no doubt about the honesty of the victims, but I cannot believe that the individuals and political groups with whom I had political and violent clashes did not use these accusations to attack me politically and to advance their political interests. Because of the security of these individuals and groups, and the regime's failure to use my words against them, I do not intend to name these individuals or groups, or what our political differences were for, but I am sure many comrades know. For the comrades who know, I admit my mistakes in dealing with these people and groups, I made many mistakes, but we must not forget that they did not make less mistakes than I did. But I admit my political mistakes, but will they also admit their mistakes? although because of security reasons for all of us, I can't publicly make self-criticism and express myself but I want my comrades and these people/groups to know, that I understandood my mistakes and made self-criticism. If I looked at things then as I do today, I would certainly behave differently, especially towards those individuals and groups with whom I had political conflicts. I apologize to these groups / individuals as well as my comrades. However, we all know that mistakes are part of learning. It is true that I made many mistakes and had problematic behaviors, but let us accept that the Greek anarchist space from feet to head is full of mistakes and is seriously problematic. Instead of blaming me for everything and using me like a toilet paper to clean your hands, face your dirty hands. I admit my mistakes, you also admit your mistakes. What is not found in Greek politics or is found very rarely is self-criticism. In fact, this is one of the main reasons for the existence of mistakes and problems of Greek political space.
Due to my political positions and activities, I currently have a lot of political responsibilities, especially the political responsibilities I have towards some groups and comrades in Greece. Since I am leaving the political movement as a self-punishment, I cannot fulfill these responsibilities. I apologize, but they are always in my thoughts and I love them and they'll be always in my heart. We will probably meet again, maybe in prisons or struggles, I still adhere to the political way and the political ideas we had, and I will never regret doing them. Surely that time I will blame myself more then for not being able to fulfill my responsibilities as I should. Maybe if I could do the responsibilities that were given to me, my comrades would not be in such a difficult situation today, and I am also to blame for your hard life, and I accept that responsibility. My irresponsibility, and not being honest enough with my comrades, dealt a heavy blow to the struggle. In some cases, it even sabotaged the struggle. Some of these things may be unforgivable, at least I can not forgive myself. Some comrades and political groups gave me everything, but I was not committed enough. It was selfish and my stupidity, I apologize for such behaviors.
Probably some comrades who have personal connections with me will put doubt on the accusations and blame the victims, which already happened. I ask those comrades to prioritize the political issues than personal connections. This is the culture of liberalism that identify everything in personal connections, we are anarchists/leftists, so we need to sometimes forget the personal connections and just take stand according to the political things. Although many comrades are disagree with me to publish such a statement because they believe it is a political suicide, but I believe the international movement (particularly those who supports me have right to know these things). Authoritarian behaviors is not just creating the state but it can be the unequality of information between the people, so we need to give information to our comrades. I ask the movement (particularly those who supports me) to give space and platform to the victims to be able express themselves freely.
More information could be expressed in this statement but since it is just a self-punishment and self-criticism statement, I decided to not mention them. I am aware that the states, fascists and enemies will use this statement but still I believe that it needed to be published.
[person X]
11 August 2021