Greece: Golden Dawn ruled 'criminal organization'
After a trial that lasted more than five years, a court in Greece on Oct. 7 ruled that the far-right Golden Dawn political party is a criminal organization. The party, founded in the 1980s by Nikos Michaloliakos, came to prominence in 2012 when it gained 21 seats in parliamentary elections. The party's politics are openly xenophobic and anti-Semitic, using the slogan "Blood, honor, Golden Dawn!"—adapted from the Hitler Youth slogan "Blood and honor." After the election, party members broke into the homes of Egyptian immigrant fishermen in the port of Perama, brutally beating them with clubs and iron rods. A year after the election, party members murdered Pavlos Fyssas, a Greek anti-fascist musician. In 2016, the party endorsed Donald Trump for US president, hailing him as a "true patriot" who will "not accept illegal immigrants in the USA."
The three-judge panel convicted 68 Golden Dawn members of a variety of crimes, including murder and attempted murder. Eleven of those convicted were present in the courtroom at the time. All seven members of the party's political council, including Michaloliakos, were convicted of directing a criminal organization, and 11 former members of parliament were found guilty of participating in a criminal organization. The leaders face up to fifteen years in prison. Giorgos Roupakias, who was found guilty of the murder of Fyssas, could receive a life sentence.
Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou welcomed the verdicts, saying in a statement, "Today's decision is a confirmation that democracy and its institutions are always capable of fending off any attempt to undermine them." Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, "As prime minister, I consciously refrain from commenting on court decisions. As a Greek citizen, however, I share the universal satisfaction for the recognition of its criminal character."
However, Nils Muižnieks, European director of Amnesty International, cautioned: "Golden Dawn's activities exposed a fissure that exists not just within Greek society but across Europe and beyond." He stated that he hoped the judgment would act as a deterrent against future racial violence and hate crimes.
From Jurist, Oct. 10. Used with permission.
Athens: march for imprisoned left-wing militant
Hundreds marched through central Athens on March 2 to express solidarity with Dimitris Koufodinas, an imprisoned leftist militant who is on hunger strike. Convicted as a gunman with the armed-left cell November 17, Koufodinas is serving 11 life sentences for his role in a spate of attacks and targeting of police stations and politicians. He stopped eating on January 8 to protest his transfer from a rural penitentiary in Volos to a high-security prison in central Greece. (Ekathimerini)
Greek neo-Nazi MEP arrested in Belgium
Greek Member of the European Parliament for the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn Ioannis Lagos was arrested in Brussels after a 658-24 vote of the European Parliament to lift his immunity with 10 abstentions. This came following a request for the waiver of his immunity by the Prosecutor at the Supreme Court of Greece with regard to possible criminal charges. (Jurist)
Greek neo-Nazi extradited from Belgium
Former Greek Golden Dawn party and European Parliament member, Ioannis Lagos, was extradited from Brussels to Athens on May 15, to serve a 13-year prison sentence. (Jurist)
Greek high court bars far-right party from upcoming election
The Greek Supreme Court on May 3 ruled that the far-right Hellenes party will be barred from the upcoming election later this month. In a nine-to-one decision, the court found that parties that are outside the legitimate political spectrum, promote violence, and don't respect democracy or the rule of law are not welcome in elections.
Party leader Ilias Kasidiaris called it "a sad day for Greece," adding that "democracy in Greece has been overthrown" as half a million of his supporters will not be able to vote for the party that they support. (Jurist)