By Madeline Schiesser
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
EVIA, Greece – A 27-year-old man was arrested last month in the Greek village of Psahna, Evia, on charges of “malicious blasphemy.” The unnamed man allegedly created a Facebook page satirizing deceased Greek monk Elder (Gerontas, Father) Paisios. Taking a page out of Pastafarianism’s book (the veneration of a Flying Spaghetti Monster), the Facebook page, titled Elder Pastitsios, replaced Paisios’ face with pastitsio, a popular lasagna-like greek dish.
Greek police arrested the man September 24, after the police’s “Cyber Crimes” bureau claimed they received thousands of complaints about the page from around the world.
However, the arrest came only days after a member of parliament belonging to Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn), a far-right, neo-fascist party that has been gaining power since May, brought the page to the attention of the minister of public order.
The police also confiscated the man’s laptop as evidence in order to determine if he was the one who created and managed the Elder Pastitsios Facebook page.
The accused man was arraigned on court on September 25, but released pending trial.
In the 98 percent Greek Orthodox Christian nation, a Facebook page critical of religion has the potential to cause offense. Paisios remains popular in Greece for his spiritual teachings, and there have been many books published about him and his prophecies. Some high-ranking members of the Greek orthodox priesthood have moved to have the Church sanctify him, a status similar to sainthood.
The Elder Pastitsios Facebook page, which has since been removed, showed satirical images and articles about the Greek Orthodox faith and Elder Paisios. The accused man explained in an interview with the Greek website Pandoras Box that his purpose was to critique the commercialization of the deceased monk.
“Pastitsios was pure satire and without any vulgar language or insults,” he explained. “I take the books and criticize them. I use satire.”
Greece is one of the very few nations in Europe that maintains and enforces blasphemy laws. If convicted, a person may be fined up to €3,000 (£2,400, $3,8000), and imprisoned up to two years.
George Katrougalos, professor of public law at the Demokritos University of Thraces, notes that there are problems with the law. “Especially, according to the [Greek] Constitution and the protections of freedom of speech, as well as the European Convention on Human Rights. The intention of the legislator seems to have been to protect minorities in general, or even the public peace.”
The arrest caused outrage on the Internet and across Greece. On Greek Twitter, the hashtag #FreeGeronPastitios trended strongly. Also, a petition directed at the Greek parliament demanded the accused man’s release and the abolishment of blasphemy laws.
Within the Greek government the Democratic Left and the main opposition party, Syriza, responded quickly. While also demanding the abolishment of the blasphemy law, the Democratic Left condemned the pandering of the government to the ultra-nationalist party, characterizing the arrest as of a “fundamentalist nature, which is not appropriate for a European, democratic state, but, rather, for theocratic regimes.”
Syriza called the arrest a “blatant act of violation of free speech by authorized officers of the state, who should be protecting it like the apple of their eye.” They further stated that it is “unacceptable that in Greece of 2012 a citizen is arrested over satirical commentary on a personal page of a social networking website.”
For more information, please see:
Global Post – Greek Man Could Face Prison for “Blasphemous” Facebook Page – 5 October 2012
The Christian Science Monitor – Blasphemy in Democracy’s Birthplace? Greece Arrests Facebook User. – 2 October 2012
The Register – Pastafarians: Get Your Noodly Appendages off that Facebook Suspect – 2 October 2012
Kathimerini – Greek Police Arrest Man Behind Facebook Page Satirizing ‘Mystical’ Priest – 25 September 2012
Kathimerini – Leftist Parties Lambast ‘Blasphemy’ Arrest – 25 September 2012
Huffington Post – ‘Gerontas Pastitsios’ Pastafarian Facebook Page Leads To Blasphemy Arrest in Greece – 24 September 2012
Refworld – Policing Belief: The Impact of Blasphemy Laws on Human Rights – Greece – 21 October 2010
