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Greek
Helsinki Monitor (GHM)
and Minority Rights Group - Greece (MRG-G) denounce that,
on 12 December 2000, two days after the celebration of International
Human Rights Day (10 December), Greece demonstrates its defiant
contempt and wanton repression of religious minorities at the
One-Member First Circuit Court of Thessaloniki. On that day, for
the first time in the Greek judicial annals, the representatives of
all minority Christian churches are scheduled to face simultaneous
trial. Sixteen members of the Catholic, Protestant, and
Jehovah’s Witnesses Churches are being prosecuted for
“unauthorized operation of a house of worship” in violation of
article 1 of Law 1672/1939. They are being tried despite the fact
that the briefs contain the permits to operate a house of worship
for eleven of the cases in dispute, while the other five are simply
offices of the respective churches. As it turns out, the
prosecution began with a document by the State Security of
Thessaloniki to the Prosecutor on 14 April 1997. It is obvious that
both the State Security and the Prosecutor are lying, their
objective being simply the harassment and humiliation of these
religious minorities, who happen to have already been acquitted by
the court. If stringent disciplinary penalties are not leveled
against the mendacious state officials, this action will be regarded
as having the sanction of the State at its highest levels.
Following is the press release of the Panhellenic Evangelical
Association, which brought this case to light.
GREEK EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE
NEWS RELEASE
Athens 6/11/00
Greek
Government Attacks Again Evangelical Churches in Thessaloniki Greece
THESSALONIKI, GREECE-Local
police had filed a suit on 12/12/97 against at least 11 pastors of the
Evangelical community of Thessaloniki accusing them that they are
operating their churches without an official “House of Prayer”
license which is needed due to the dictatorial laws of 1363/38 which
are still valid in Greece. They are called now in a regular court
hearing for December 12, 2000. Among them is the Greek Evangelical
Church of Thessaloniki pastored by Rev. George Goudas which is one of
the largest and the most historical Evangelical church in Thessaloniki
operating for more than a century in the center of the city and also
the well known by now Apostolic Pentecostal church of Thessaloniki
pastored by Rev. John Demetriades with a history of many decades in
the city. Pastor Demetriades had been brought to the court few months
ago with the same accusations. Also the Biblical Church of
Thessaloniki pastored by Rev. Timothy Antoniadis who is member of the
Executive committee of GEA just to mention few of them.
Similar accusations have been brought against 14 other
evangelical churches, along with some others religious minorities
groups, since 1997 on the behalf of the local police apparently after
instructions of higher governmental authorities.
It is inconceivable and incomprehensible in the midst
of the year 2000 to face persecution the peaceful and law -abiding
citizens of Greece because of their desire to worship God allegedly
without government permit. (Something, which is in this case
untruthful and an unjust accusation!)
Greece has been condemned for the above law numerous
times in the courts of Europe and has had to pay heavy fines. Recent
court cases before the European Court of Human Rights have confirmed
the need for the Greek government to grant greater freedoms to
religious minorities. The dictatorial laws of 1363/38 and 1672/39 must
be abolished. Greece the state which gave birth to Democracy should
not tolerate laws like the above which clearly oppress the religious
freedom of its people. We would like to call the international
community to protest to the Greek government against the above
actions, which of course are not representing the convictions and
spirit of the overwhelming majority of the Greek people.
The
Coordinating Committee of the Greek Evangelical Alliance.
AMG
Eastern Europe / GEA
G.
Souri 14
185
47 N. Faliro
Greece
Tel
(0030) 1 4834 001
Fax
(0030) 1 4834 000
Mobile
(0030) 944 443343
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