Yet another case where the Christian Fundamentalists in Greece can use the law to abuse artists and creators.
- First there was “Corpus Christi” (you can read about it here, here and here) I think they were acquitted, but I’m not entirely sure; I can’t find any sources to that.
- Then there was “Elder Pastitsios” (here, here and here) who was eventually convicted in 2014 to 10 months in prison (suspended for 3 years).
- Then there was Dionysis Kavalieratos (here) who had his art exhibit invaded by more or less the same people who got offended and dragged him to court as well in 2013. Thankfully, he was acquitted.
And now there’s a new case to add to this list. A few days ago an Old Calendarist monk, well-known for his semi-hillarious, semi-worrying antics* led a small group of people in protest against a “blasphemous” theatrical play in Thessaloniki; “The Hour of the Devil” by Portuguese playwright Ferndando Pessoa (written in the early 20th c.; Pessoa died in 1935).
- Him repeatedly kicking a “demonic” ATM machine
- Vandalizing the Holocaust Memorial in the city of Larissa (he was charged for this)
- Trying to crash a visit by the Ecumenical Patriarch (the Old Calendarists despise him because he deigns to have contact with the Pope)
- And most recently protesting the greek screening of the “Batman and Jesus” mythicist film; peacefully this time.
“Father” Kleomenis is speaking in the foreground. The old man with the glasses next to him is the same guy from this video on the Kavalieratos case.
Let me stress that again: they were protesting a play written almost a century ago. But I would be perfectly fine with a peaceful protest. But no, they couldn’t leave well enough alone. First they decided to turn violent (3 were arrested). Then they decided to cap this medieval display with a lawsuit against all people involved in the play, led by PMs of Golden Dawn (who had also participated in the protests against “Corpus Christi” and the lawsuit against Pastitsios).
Click to enlarge
(it’s written in Comic Sans, for crying out loud…)
Whether or not they are in danger of conviction is unknown; there have been cases in both ways, though I’m still not clear how a play in a private venue and indoors can qualify as a public display of blasphemy. In any case, as long as these archaic blasphemy laws remain, there is always potential for abuse by anyone with money and time to waste of such frivolous lawsuits. Thank God we leave in a country with a left-wing government who has promised repeatedly to strike down these laws. Any day now?
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