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GREEK
PASTORS ACQUITTED, DISCRIMINATORY LAWS UPHELD
THESSALONIKI, GREECE --In the culmination of a three-year legal battle
for
Greek minority groups, the Thessaloniki District Court handed down its
verdict today in the high-profile Thessaloniki v. Sidiropoulos
case. While
acquitting the eleven evangelical congregations (and five other
minority
churches) of any violations, the court shied away from making any
precedent-setting statements about the controversial law at stake in
the
case.
First enacted during the authoritarian regime of dictator John Metaxas,
the
law requires that all Greek minority churches obtain their operating
license
from the local Orthodox bishop, effectively precluding minority groups
from
exercising their constitutional freedoms. Yet in a completely
unexpected
move, the district attorney called on the presiding judge to support a
long-overdue modernization of the law, one that would harmonize local
code
with the spirit and decisions of the European Convention on Human
Rights.
"Hearing the district attorney himself demanding such a
statement, we expect
nothing less than the courtís immediate action" noted lead
defense attorney
Vassilis Tsirbas in his remarks to the Greek press. "Donít
mistake the
acquittal of these pastors for a victory," he said.
"That Greek minorities
are forced to submit to the ecclesiastical (and by extension, civil)
authority of the Orthodox Church constitutes a human rights violation
of the
highest order."
Though this particular legal battle is over, we must continue our
efforts to
abolish this oppressive law. While Greeks in general enjoy
religious
freedom, our Greek Evangelical, along with other minorities,
continue to be
taken to court and harassed under the current regulations.
On Behalf of the Coordinating committee of the Greek Evangelical
Alliance
Fotis Romeos
G. Secretary of GEA
PS If you would like to join in the movement to eliminate legal
discrimination against Greek evangelicals, please address your
concerns
about laws 1363/38 and 1672/39 to the following government officials.
Costas Simitis
Prime Minister of Greece
E-mail: mail@primeminister.gr
Fax: (011) 301 323.8129
Peter Efthimiou
Minister of Education and Religious Affairs
E-mail: edu_ref@ypepth.gr
Fax: (011) 301 323.3787
Michael Stathopoulos
Minister of Justice
E-mail: minjust1@otenet.gr
Fax: (011) 301 775.8742
(If you use e-mail, please send a copy of your letter to amglogos@hol.gr).
Or for more information about the case, please contact the Greek
Evangelical
Alliance:
Fotis Romeos, GEA General Secretary
Tel. (011) 301 483.4001
Fax: (011) 301.483.4000
Mobile: (011) 3094 444.3343
E-mail: amglogos@hol.gr
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