Neither of these boys, nor any other person we have spoken to attempted to file a complaint about the behavior of port police officers. When we asked Ghulam S. whether he had tried to lodge a complaint, he said: “there was nobody to complain to.” 97 Indeed, the way in which the authorities investigated the multiple stabbing of 14year-old Ismail F., an unaccompanied child from Afghanistan, inside the port premises in November 2007, reinforces the rationality of Ghulam S.’s perspective. According to various sources, a person in uniform stabbed Ismail F. several times with a sharp object while he was hiding under a truck.98 He was taken to a hospital and received medical treatment. A medical examination of the boy’s injuries first concluded that the boy had been hit by a blunt and heavy object. Two months later the hospital revised the medical report to conclude his injuries were caused by a sharp object.99 The Hellenic Red Cross provided legal assistance to the boy and to a second witness who was also underage and helped them to file a complaint.100 The case was also brought to the attention of the Greek Ombudsman. During a pre-investigation by the responsible office of the Ministry of Mercantile Marine, the two boys were asked to identify the perpetrator from among only two officers presented to them. No victim protection mechanism was put in place and the boys were visible during the identification procedure. They did not identify either officer as a perpetrator. They were also not referred to any safe housing by the state for the duration of the investigation. 97 Human Rights Watch interview with Ghulam S., Athens, June 5, 2008. Human Rights Watch was unable to meet with the port police in Patras on June 9. We brought allegations of ill-treatment against the Patras port police to the attention of the Minister of Mercantile Marine in a letter and called for an investigation. We had not received any reply from the Ministry when this report went to print. 98 Human Rights Watch interview in Patras, June 9, 2008 (exact name withheld); Human Rights Watch interviews with refugee rights activists in Athens on May 22, and June 5, 2008 (exact names withheld); Human Rights Watch interview with Greek Ombudsman office, Athens, June 10, 2008. 99 The Greek Ombudsman strongly criticized the Patras hospital’s initial wrong diagnosis of the object that caused the boy’s injuries. In a letter to the hospital, the Greek Ombudsman argues that this wrong examination had a direct impact on the investigation and disciplinary and penal responsibilities. Human Rights Watch has a copy of the letter on file. 100 Human Rights Watch interview, Patras, June 9, 2008 (exact name withheld); Human Rights Watch interviews with refugee rights activists in Athens, May 22, and June 5, 2008 (exact names withheld). 35 Human Rights Watch December 2008