21 January 2011
Greece: Concerns over trial of human rights defenders – Public Statement
On 24 January 2011, the spokesperson and the specialist on anti-semitism of the non-governmental organization Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) and four members of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (KIS) will be tried before the 6th Misdemeanors Court of Athens for charges of false accusations and aggravated defamation against the author of the book “Jews – The Whole Truth”, Kostantinos Plevris, following a complaint he filed on 4 January 2007. Panayote Dimitras, the Greek Helsinki Monitor spokesperson is also charged with perjury.
Each of the offences for which the individuals concerned have been charged attracts a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
According to the indictment, the content of the testimonies and/or statements made by the GHM representatives and the KIS officers in the case against Konstantinos Plevris in 2006 was false and defamatory.
Indicatively, the indictment considers as false and defamatory the testimonies and/or statements that Konstantinos Plevris exhibited the desire for there to be no Jews in Europe in his article in the newspaper “Eleftheros Kosmos” and in his book and that he intentionally urged, through the Greek press, actions that could lead to discrimination, hatred and violence against individuals and groups of persons solely because of their racial and ethnic origin. The indictment accepts that the texts were directed against “Jewish-Zionists” and that Konstantinos Plevris had no intention of inciting hatred or violence but rather of citing historical texts that give rise to evidence for his allegations against the Zionist-Jews.
Amnesty International wishes to express its concern over the criminal prosecution of the representatives of the Greek Helsinki Monitor and KIS members for false claims, defamation and perjury. The organization considers that the dispute reflects a debate about differing interpretations of the publications concerned, and such a dispute should not be criminalized. Imprisonment is never an appropriate remedy for alleged defamation and Amnesty International believes that charges such as these have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and the ability of human rights defenders to do their work.
Background
The case is linked with complaints filed against Konstantinos Plevris in 2006.
More specifically, in October 2006, the Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) sent a letter to the Head of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Athens First-Instance Courts calling for the ex officio prosecution of Konstantinos Plevris and the newspaper “Eleftheros Kosmos” in relation to articles published therein on the ground that the articles concerned were anti-Semitic.
In December 2006, the GHM specialist on anti-semitism, Andrea Gilbert, and KIS members (Benjamin Albalas, Leon Gavrilidis, Moisis Konstantinis, and Avraam Reitan) filed complaints for violation of the anti-racism law 927/79 against Konstantinos Plevris based on content of his book “Jews – The Whole Truth” and a related text in the newspaper “Eleftheros Kosmos”. The complaint was also filed against the newspaper for publishing texts with extracts of the book and other texts that the claimants also considered anti-Semitic.
On 20 July 2007, Konstantinos Plevris and the newspaper were referred to trial for violations of the anti-racism law.
On 13 December 2007, Konstantinos Plevris was convicted by the Second three-member Appeal Court of Athens to a suspended prison sentence of 14 months’ imprisonment for inciting racial violence and hatred and for racial insults in relation to his book. Konstantinos Plevris was acquitted for his article in the newspaper. The newspaper “Eleftheros Kosmos” was acquitted as well.
In March 2009, an Athens Appeals’ Court reversed the December 2007 judgment and acquitted Konstantinos Plevris. In July 2009, the Supreme Court Prosecutor filed a “cassation for the benefit of the law”, appealing against the Court of Appeal’s judgment. On 15 July 2010, the Supreme Court rejected the cassation appeal of the Prosecutor and upheld the acquittal.
According to the indictment, the content of the testimonies and/or statements made by the GHM representatives and the KIS officers in the case against Konstantinos Plevris in 2006 was false and defamatory.
Indicatively, the indictment considers as false and defamatory the testimonies and/or statements that Konstantinos Plevris exhibited the desire for there to be no Jews in Europe in his article in the newspaper “Eleftheros Kosmos” and in his book and that he intentionally urged, through the Greek press, actions that could lead to discrimination, hatred and violence against individuals and groups of persons solely because of their racial and ethnic origin. The indictment accepts that the texts were directed against “Jewish-Zionists” and that Konstantinos Plevris had no intention of inciting hatred or violence but rather of citing historical texts that give rise to evidence for his allegations against the Zionist-Jews.
Amnesty International wishes to express its concern over the criminal prosecution of the representatives of the Greek Helsinki Monitor and KIS members for false claims, defamation and perjury. The organization considers that the dispute reflects a debate about differing interpretations of the publications concerned, and such a dispute should not be criminalized. Imprisonment is never an appropriate remedy for alleged defamation and Amnesty International believes that charges such as these have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and the ability of human rights defenders to do their work.
Background
The case is linked with complaints filed against Konstantinos Plevris in 2006.
More specifically, in October 2006, the Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) sent a letter to the Head of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Athens First-Instance Courts calling for the ex officio prosecution of Konstantinos Plevris and the newspaper “Eleftheros Kosmos” in relation to articles published therein on the ground that the articles concerned were anti-Semitic.
In December 2006, the GHM specialist on anti-semitism, Andrea Gilbert, and KIS members (Benjamin Albalas, Leon Gavrilidis, Moisis Konstantinis, and Avraam Reitan) filed complaints for violation of the anti-racism law 927/79 against Konstantinos Plevris based on content of his book “Jews – The Whole Truth” and a related text in the newspaper “Eleftheros Kosmos”. The complaint was also filed against the newspaper for publishing texts with extracts of the book and other texts that the claimants also considered anti-Semitic.
On 20 July 2007, Konstantinos Plevris and the newspaper were referred to trial for violations of the anti-racism law.
On 13 December 2007, Konstantinos Plevris was convicted by the Second three-member Appeal Court of Athens to a suspended prison sentence of 14 months’ imprisonment for inciting racial violence and hatred and for racial insults in relation to his book. Konstantinos Plevris was acquitted for his article in the newspaper. The newspaper “Eleftheros Kosmos” was acquitted as well.
In March 2009, an Athens Appeals’ Court reversed the December 2007 judgment and acquitted Konstantinos Plevris. In July 2009, the Supreme Court Prosecutor filed a “cassation for the benefit of the law”, appealing against the Court of Appeal’s judgment. On 15 July 2010, the Supreme Court rejected the cassation appeal of the Prosecutor and upheld the acquittal.
For further information, please contact:
Beth Berton-Hunter, Media Relations
416-363-9933, ext. 332
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21 jan 2011
Grécia: As preocupações com julgamento de defensores dos direitos humanos - Declaração Pública
Em 24 de janeiro de 2011, o porta-voz e especialista em anti-semitismo, da organização não-governamental grego de Helsínquia Monitor (GHM) e quatro membros do Conselho Central de Comunidades Judaicas da Grécia (KIS) serão julgados perante o Tribunal de 6 Pecados Atenas por acusações de falsas acusações e difamação agravada contra o autor do livro "Judeus - The Whole Truth", Kostantinos Plevris, na sequência de uma denúncia que ele apresentou, em 4 de janeiro de 2007. Panayote Dimitras, o grego Helsínquia porta-voz do monitor também é acusado de perjúrio.
Cada um dos delitos para os quais os indivíduos em causa foram acusados atrai uma pena máxima de cinco anos de prisão.
Segundo a acusação, o conteúdo dos depoimentos e / ou declarações feitas pelos representantes GHM e os oficiais KIS no caso contra Konstantinos Plevris em 2006 era falsa e difamatória.
A título indicativo, a acusação considera falsas e difamatórias os depoimentos e / ou declarações que Konstantinos Plevris apresentaram o desejo de que não haja judeus na Europa, em seu artigo no jornal "Eleftheros Kosmos" e em seu livro e que ele pediu intencionalmente, através de a imprensa grega, as ações que podem levar ao ódio, discriminação e violência contra pessoas e grupos de pessoas apenas por causa de sua origem racial e étnica. A acusação aceita que os textos foram dirigidos contra "judeu-sionistas" e que Konstantinos Plevris não tinha a intenção de incitar o ódio ou a violência, mas sim de citar textos históricos que dão origem à prova de suas alegações contra os sionistas-judeus.
Anistia Internacional quer expressar sua preocupação com a ação penal contra os representantes do grego Helsinki Monitor e membros KIS para falsas alegações, difamação e perjúrio. A organização considera que a disputa reflete um debate sobre diferentes interpretações das publicações em causa, e tal conflito não deve ser criminalizado. Prisão nunca é uma solução adequada para alegada difamação e Amnesty International acredita que as taxas como essas têm um efeito negativo sobre a liberdade de expressão e da capacidade dos defensores dos direitos humanos para fazer o seu trabalho.
Antecedentes
O caso está relacionado com denúncias contra Konstantinos Plevris em 2006.
Mais especificamente, em outubro de 2006, o grego Helsínquia Monitor (GHM) enviou uma carta ao Chefe de Gabinete da Procuradoria da Primeira Instância de Atenas Tribunais de chamar para o julgamento ex officio de Konstantinos Plevris eo jornal "Eleftheros Kosmos" em relação ao artigos aqui publicados sobre o fundamento de que os artigos em causa eram anti-semitas.
Em dezembro de 2006, o especialista GHM sobre o anti-semitismo, Andrea Gilbert e membros KIS (Benjamin Albalas, Leon Gavrilidis, Moisis Konstantinis e Avraam Reitan) apresentaram queixas por violação dos 927/79 anti-racismo lei contra Konstantinos Plevris base conteúdo de seu livro "Judeus - The Whole Truth" e um texto relacionado no jornal "Eleftheros Kosmos". A denúncia também foi apresentada contra o jornal por publicar textos com extratos do livro e outros textos que os reclamantes também considerado anti-semita.
Em 20 de julho de 2007, Konstantinos Plevris eo jornal foram encaminhados a julgamento por violações da lei anti-racismo.
Em 13 de dezembro de 2007, Konstantinos Plevris foi condenado pela Segunda três membros Corte de Apelações de Atenas, a uma pena suspensa de prisão, 14 meses "para incitar a violência e ódio racial e injúria racial em relação ao seu livro. Konstantinos Plevris foi absolvido pelo seu artigo no jornal. O jornal "Eleftheros Kosmos" foi absolvido também.
Em março de 2009, um Recurso de Atenas Tribunal reverteu a decisão dezembro 2007 e absolvido Konstantinos Plevris. Em julho de 2009, o Supremo Tribunal Federal ajuizou "cassação do benefício da lei", recurso contra acórdão do Tribunal de Recurso. Em 15 de julho de 2010, a Suprema Corte rejeitou o recurso de cassação do Procurador e confirmou a absolvição.
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Para obter informações adicionais, favor contatar :
Berton Beth Hunter, Relações com a Mídia
416-363-9933, ext. 332
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