Greece bans Holocaust denial (or other recognized genocides)

Greek lawmakers have passed a law that bans Holocaust denial and imposes stricter penalties for hate speech.

The government had been trying to pass the bill for more than a year as it sought ways to confront the rise of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party and a surge in anti-immigrant violence.

For the first time, the bill criminalizes the denial or trivialization of the Holocaust or other recognized genocides.

Greek PM to Jewish leaders: This is not the Weimar Republic. -Arye Mekel: “We’ve seen a dramatic change in Greek public opinion"

By Raphael Ahren
Antonis Samaras honored for his fight against neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, but worries remain that after upcoming elections ‘things will deteriorate for Jews in Greece’

ATHENS — Acknowledging that right-wing extremism is increasing in his country, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras vowed on Monday to continue fighting racism and anti-Semitism with all the tools available to a democratic state. 

Samaras recently initiated several steps intended to crack down on the ascendant neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, but local Jews still worry it could make gains in the upcoming municipal and European Parliament elections, in which case, a community leader warned, “things will deteriorate for the Jews in Greece. 

Fatal shooting near Athens Golden Dawn office. -Police say two people are killed in a drive-by shooting outside the offices of the far-right party in Greece's capital.

At least two men have been shot dead in a drive-by shooting outside Greece's Golden Dawn party office in Athens, police said.
Two attackers on a motorbike seriously injured one more man in Friday's incident in the Iraklio neighbourhood, according to information published on the party's website.
Golden Dawn said in a statement that the victims were 20 and 23 years old, but police had not yet verified their identities and details on the shooting were not immediately available.
"The murderers - whoever they are - will be dealt with unsparingly by our democracy. Let everyone know this," government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou told reporters outside the prime minister's mansion.

Greek Golden Dawn party leader due in court. -Wednesday's court appearance comes after three MPs from the far-right party are freed pending trial.

Leader and founder of the Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn is set to appear before court on Wednesday, as part of a crackdown on the group following the murder of an anti-fascist musician.

Nikos Michaloliakos is due to be charged after an examining magistrate has linked Golden Dawn to dozens of cases, including two homicides, three attempted homicides, two robberies and an arson attack against a bank.
If convicted, Michaloliakos faces at least 10 years in prison, alongside other members of his party, including his deputy Christos Pappas, who is set to be charged on Thursday.

"We have a golden opportunity to purge our society of violence," Greek government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou told Skai Radio, calling the group "a criminal organisation that tried to cover itself under a political cloak."

Hellenic excess: Golden Dawn arrests shows Greece go from one extreme to another.

After a long period of inertia in Greece, when gangs organized by the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn “terrorized” immigrants, gays and leftists, the country has gone to another extreme by arresting the party leaders, law Professor George Katrougalos told RT.
Greek authorities are conducting a sweeping crackdown on the far-right Golden Dawn party, arresting its leader, and a dozen senior officials and members on charges of creating a criminal organization. This comes amid anger over the murder of a prominent anti-fascist musician Pavlos Fyssas two weeks ago. Allegedly, the crime was committed by a devoted supporter of Golden Dawn, though Greece’s third-largest party strongly denies any link.
Professor George Katrougalos believes it is unlikely that the party will be banned. 

Thousands march in Athens protesting racist attacks in Greece (PHOTOS)

About 3,000 immigrants and human rights activists marched in Athens in an anti-racism rally, protesting the death of a 27-year-old Pakistani, who was stabbed in an alleged ‘racially-motivated’ attack earlier this week.
­Participants of the anti-racism rally marched in the city’s central Omonia square, with the demonstrators holding banners reading: “Neo-Nazis out” and “Punishment for the fascist murderers of Shehzad Luqman.”
Earlier on Saturday morning about 300 Pakistani immigrants gathered outside city hall bearing the coffin with the body of Pakistani immigrant Shehzad Luqman, who died Wednesday.

Greece scraps police protection for far-right lawmakers

(Reuters) - Greece scrapped police protection for lawmakers from the far-right Golden Dawn party on Monday after the bodyguards did nothing while the deputies went on a rampage destroying street stands run by migrant vendors.