Anti-Semitism Trial
Published by deviousdiva November 27th, 2007 in Anti-Semitism.Via the Greek Helsinki Monitor. Please download and read the whole article. The following is copy/pasted from that document.
Greece: Anti-Semitism and the ongoing Plevris – “Eleftheros Kosmos” trial
The Plevris - “Eleftheros Kosmos” trial will start again on 3 December 2007. The spectacle, on 11 September 2007, of a courtroom packed with neo-Nazis and their supporters, as opposed to a handful of anti-racist activists from the anti-racist organization Greek Helsinki Monitor and Anti-Nazi Initiative, and a mere four Jews from the KIS Board, themselves outnumbered by their six lawyers, gave the court the impression that this was a trial that concerned only the neo-Nazis and the anti-racists, but not the Jews.
For this reason, I strongly urge all of you to bring your relatives and your friends to pack the courtroom on this date. Then, if any judicial official repeats the anti-Jewish antics of 11 September 2007, s/he will see the reactions not just of the activists but also and mainly of Holocaust survivors and their descendents.
Anti-Semitism will not go away if the Jews hide from it. For then, Jews may one day go away again. Anti-Semitism will diminish only if it is systematically fought, primarily by gentiles, but also by the Jews themselves, who are the victims. It is up to the Jews to wake up the gentiles, who are tolerating the intolerant.
It must be mentioned that all four supposedly anti-racist and non-extremist Greek political parties that have voted the anti-racist law [927/1979] (New Democracy, PASOK, Coalition and KKE) were invited by GHM in August 2007 to take the stand in that trial, so as to indicate in that way their will to see it applied. They responded with a deafening silence, just as they did even after they were informed of the proceedings of the 11 September 2007 trial.
What does the Plevris “scholarly work” say in its 1,400 pages? Here is a very small selection:
“That’s what Jews want. It’s the only thing they understand: an execution squad within 24 hours.”
“Ridding Europe of the Jews is necessary, because Judaism poses a threat to the freedom of Nations.”
“There is a Jewish problem in Europe… The Jewish problem lies precisely in the fact that a non-European racial minority is conspiring against European Nations, which it wants to subjugate. This problem must be addressed because if it is not, the White Race is in danger. I see no other solution than that the Jews should leave Europe…”
“The White Race does not want Semites in Europe, because that is what is in its biological interests.”
“My book, which you are now reading, is simple proof that we are not afraid of the Jews. We scorn them for their morality, their religion, and their acts, which together prove that they are sub-human.”
‘Hitler was blamed for something that did not actually take place. Later the history of humanity will blame him for not ridding Europe of the Jews, though he could have… My dear Jews, I do not ask you to suffer all the things that your holy books tell you that we should suffer from you… You are criminals because that is what your religion has taught you to be. You are murderers because crime is instilled in you from an early age. Therefore we others have the right to deal with you. And that is what we will do.”
Technorati: greece, plevris, anti-semitism, law, neo-nazi, anti-racist
Well i see that the people commenting on “LIFE WITHOUT PAPERS”
Aint even coming close , to taking a stand on the fascist greek PLEYRIS,
But what can you accept from a greek goverment and the judicial systems
that gave leave to the former MILITARY JUNTA DICTATORS like
PATTAKOS STYLIANOS when he was sentenced to life in prison 6 times OVER
and who is currently basking under the sun , in the south of CRETE.
THE FASCISTS AND EX-DICTATORS CAN ROAM FREE AND HAVE THEIR
SAY IN ANYTHING
AND 20 YEAR OLDS BORN IN GREECE CANT EVEN VERIFY
THEIR IDENTITY FOR SIMPLE THINGS .
NO THIS IS NOT THE GREECE I DREAM OF
BORN IN GREECE OF GREEK PARENTS , I AM PROUD OF MY HERITAGE
AND PROUD OF SHARING IT ,,
CONTINUING IT THOUGH .
……..BECOMES MORE DIFFUCULT
EACH AND EVERY DAY ,,,, ………………JUST A THOUGHT =Z=
Plevris has the right to say whatever he wants, as long as it doesn’t incite racial hatred.
Why are you commies not pro-free speech?
Are you proud of the Greek warriors who defended South Korea from Communism, or do you spit at them?
WE HAVE A RIGHT TO TAKE A STAND ON ANYTHING
IS NOT THAT WHAT RIGHTS IS ABOUT
EVEN IF WE DETEST THOSE TAKING A STAND
The price for NOT allowing them to take a stand
IS A THOUSAND TIMES WORSE
OR IS IT WE ARE NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN RIGHTS OR FREEDOM AT ALL
But simply our own little agendas……….
And we use whatever tool at our disposal
TO CRUSH DISSENTING VIEWS
ANYWAY I AM INCOMPREHENSIBLE AND REPETITIVE
I SHOULD REALLY THINK UP A NEW WAY TO EXPRESS MYSELF
JUST A THOUGHT
,,,QUESTION …?
WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
Greek warriors who defended South Korea from Communism..? (your words)
Greek army regulars stationed in Afghanistan to protects us from terrorism.? (today)
xmmmmm..?
…..
…..
THERE IS NONE ,,
THEIR NOT THERE FOR YOU AND ME , …..
BUT I GUESS YOU FEEL
ITS NICE TO KNOW ,,THOUGH
THAT WE GREEKS CAN TRAVEL
THE WORLD………… THRU TIME
AND KILL FOR OTHERS AND THATS NOT RACIAL , PARTIAL
OR ANYTHING ELSE ,,,,,,,,,,IS IT ,,,,
SO WHATS THE DIFERENCE BETWEEN YOU ANTICOMMIE AND HITLER,,?
…………………… A N Y T H I NG ,,?
Greeks love Jews. Simon Peres is a Greek Jew who was helped by Greeks during world war two. It was not only the kind Greek heart, but the support of the Orthodox Church too.
The appeal of the Archbishop and his fellow Greeks is unique;
there is no similar document of protest of the Nazis during World War II that has come to light in any other European country.
The following is the full text of the letter:
To: Mr Konstantinos Logothetopoulos
Prime Minister
Athens
Given in Athens, on March 23 1943
Mr Prime Minister,
The Greek nation has learned, with justifiable astonishment and
distress, that the German Occupation Authorities commenced to
implement in Thessaloniki the measure of the gradual deportation
of the Greek Israelite population beyond the borders of the country
and that the first group of displaced persons are already on their
way to Poland. The distress of the Greek people is all the greater
in that:
1) According to the spirit of the terms of the cease-fire, all
Greek citizens expected to receive the same treatment at the
hands of the Occupation Authorities, irrespective of race and
religion.
2) The Greek Israelites have not only been invaluable contributors
the nation’s economic progress but have as a group always
demonstrated loyalty and entire comprehension of their duties, as
Hellenes. Thus, they shared the common sacrifice on behalf of the
Greek state and found themselves in the front line of the battles
which the Greek Nation waged in defence of its revocable historic
rights.
3) The fidelity of the Hebrew Community in Greece precludes in
advance any accusation of its involvement in activities and
actions susceptible of threatening, even from afar, the security
of the Military Authorities of the Occupation.
4) In the face of national consciousness, the sons of the common
mother country of Greece are united without distinction and equal
members of the National Body, irrespective of any difference of
religion or faith.
5) Our Holy Faith recognises no distinction, superiority or
inferiority, based on race or religion, holding as doctrine that
“There is neither Jew now Greek” (Galatians 3:28), condemning
therefore any tendency to create any discrimination or racial or
religious distinction.
6) Our Community of destiny, through days of glory and periods of
national misfortune, hammered on the anvil of courageous Hellenism
indissoluble bonds linking all Greek citizens, without distinction,
whatever race they may belong to.
We are not of course unaware of the profound opposition between
New Germany and the Israelite community, nor is it our intention
to become the defenders or simply the judges of international Jewry
and of any of its actions in the sphere of the major political and
economic problems of the world. The only thing that interests and
is of vital concern to us today is the fate of 60,000 of our fellow
citizens of the Hebrew faith, whose nobility of sentiments,
fraternal disposition, progressive ideas, economic activity and
most important of all irreproachable patriotism, this last having
been irrefutably demonstrated by the large number of victims the
Greek Israelites brought forward the unlamenting and without
hesitation to the altar of duty to the imperilled common
fatherland, we have known through our long life together, a life
shared in slavery and in freedom.
We are persuaded that the government shares the thoughts and the
feelings of the rest of the Greek nation, on this matter. We
further believe that will have already made the necessary
representations to the Occupation Authorities with regard to
the cessation of the distressing and purposeless measure of
the deportation of the Greek Israelite population.
We hope indeed that you will have represented to those in power
that this harsh treatment of the Greek Israelite population, in
contrast to that of Israelites of other nationalities resident
in Greece, renders all the more unjustifiable and consequently
morally unacceptable the application of this measure. And if
reasons of security should be advanced in justification of
this measure, we consider that other solutions might have been
found and preventive measures implemented, such a confinement of
the active male population alone (excepting children and the
elderly) in some specific place within the borders of the Greek
State and under the supervision of the Occupation Authorities in
such fashion that the security of the latter be safeguarded
even against hypothetical danger, and the class of Greek
Israelites escape the dreadful consequences of the deportation
with which they are now threatened. It is unnecessary to add that
were such a measure to be implemented, the rest of the Greek
people would be disposed, if requested, unhesitatingly to add
their entire assurance, on behalf of their ill-used brothers.
We hope that the Occupation Authorities will before it is too
late realise the futility of the persecution of the Greek
Israelites, who are among the most peaceful and productive
members of the population.
If however they should adhere obstinately to their policy of
deporting these people, then we feel that the Government, as
the agent of residual authority in this country, will have to
assume a clear position against these actions, leaving to the
foreigner the entire responsibility for the perpetration of this
manifest injustice. Because we think that no one is entitled to
forget that all the acts committed in this difficult period,
even those lying outside our will and our power, will one day
be examined by the Nation by meet and right historical reckoning.
At the hour of judgment, the moral responsibilities will weigh
heavily on the conscience of the Nation, and even more so the acts
of those in power, if they shall have failed to express through a
courageous and honourable gesture their entirely reasonable
displeasure and the unanimous objection of the Nation to actions
as mortally offensive to national unity and honour as the
deportation of the Greek Israelites now commenced.
Yours faithfully,
DAMASKINOS
Archbishop of Athens and all Greece
The President of the Academy of Athens, S. Dontas, the Rector
of the University of Athens, Er. Skassis, the Rector of the
National Polytechnic, I. Theofanopoulos, the Rector of School
of Economics and Political Sciences, A. Nezos, the President
of the Medical Association of Attica, M.Karzis, the President
of the Bar Association of Attica, P. Anastasopoulos, the
President of the Association of Notaries to the Court of
Appeal of Athens and the Aegean, K. Antonopoulos, the President
of the Union of Editors of the Athens Daily Press, G. Karantzas,
the President of the Society of Greek Authors, Th. Synadinos,
the President of the Society of Greek Writers, M. Argyropoulos,
the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Piraeus, D.
Petroulakos, the President of the Technical Chamber of Greece,
A. Karras, the President of the Proffesional Chamber of Athens,
S. Halkiadakis, the President of the Union of Greek Chemists, K.
Nevros, the President of the Pharmacists’ Association of Athens, A.
Tsisonis, the President of the Dental Association, I. Kareklis,
the President of the Chamber of Manufacturers of Athens, K.
Papadoyannis, the President of the Pharmacists’ Association of
Piraeus, M. Kalatzakos, the President of the Greek Actors’
Association, Th. Moridis, the President of the Panhellenic
Pharmacists Association, A. Karamertzanis, the President of
the Medical Association of Piraeus, D. Mantouvalos, The
President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce, D. Vasilopoulos,
the President of the Athens Chamber of Trade and Industry, A.
Poulopuolos, the vice-president of the Union of Greek
Theatre and Music Critics, N. Rodas, the President of the
Medical Association of Kallithea, M. Rimantonis, the Secretary
General of the Panhellenic Dental Association, H. Apostolou,
the President of the Association of Greek Industrialists, I.
Terzakis, the Director of the Emergency Shelters, Th. Sperantzas,
the Director General of the Social Insurance Foundation, H.
Agagopoulos.
“Greek army regulars stationed in Afghanistan to protects us from terrorism.? (today)”
Most of the Greeks in Afghanistan are Engineers are other support troops.
You want them to be killed probably by the ‘freedom fighters’ right?
Personally, I have never seen or heard of anti-Semitism in Greece. Actually, where I come from our whole island was awarded the Order of Israel. However, there are some ugly incidents elsewhere…………..
Haaretz Newspaper, Nov 17, 2007
Christians in Jerusalem want Jews to stop spitting on them
By Amiram Barkat
A few weeks ago, a senior Greek Orthodox clergyman in Israel attended a meeting at a government office in Jerusalem’s Givat Shaul quarter. When he returned to his car, an elderly man wearing a skullcap came and knocked on the window. When the clergyman let the window down, the passerby spat in his face. Advertisement
The clergyman prefered not to lodge a complaint with the police and told an acquaintance that he was used to being spat at by Jews. Many Jerusalem clergy have been subjected to abuse of this kind. For the most part, they ignore it but sometimes they cannot.
On Sunday, a fracas developed when a yeshiva student spat at the cross being carried by the Armenian Archbishop during a procession near the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City. The archbishop’s 17th-century cross was broken during the brawl and he slapped the yeshiva student.
Both were questioned by police and the yeshiva student will be brought to trial. The Jerusalem District Court has meanwhile banned the student from approaching the Old City for 75 days.
But the Armenians are far from satisfied by the police action and say this sort of thing has been going on for years. Archbishop Nourhan Manougian says he expects the education minister to say something.
“When there is an attack against Jews anywhere in the world, the Israeli government is incensed, so why when our religion and pride are hurt, don’t they take harsher measures?” he asks.
According to Daniel Rossing, former adviser to the Religious Affairs Ministry on Christian affairs and director of a Jerusalem center for Christian-Jewish dialogue, there has been an increase in the number of such incidents recently, “as part of a general atmosphere of lack of tolerance in the country.”
Rossing says there are certain common characeristics from the point of view of time and location to the incidents. He points to the fact that there are more incidents in areas where Jews and Christians mingle, such as the Jewish and Armenian quarters of the Old City and the Jaffa Gate.
There are an increased number at certain times of year, such as during the Purim holiday.”I know Christians who lock themselves indoors during the entire Purim holiday,” he says.
Former adviser to the mayor on Christian affairs, Shmuel Evyatar, describes the situation as “a huge disgrace.” He says most of the instigators are yeshiva students studying in the Old City who view the Christian religion with disdain.
“I’m sure the phenomenon would end as soon as rabbis and well-known educators denounce it. In practice, rabbis of yeshivas ignore or even encourage it,” he says.
Evyatar says he himself was spat at while walking with a Serbian bishop in the Jewish quarter, near his home. “A group of yeshiva students spat at us and their teacher just stood by and watched.”
Jerusalem municipal officials said they are aware of the problem but it has to be dealt with by the police. Shmuel Ben-Ruby, the police spokesman, said they had only two complaints from Christians in the past two years. He said that, in both cases, the culprits were caught and punished.
He said the police deploy an inordinately high number of patrols and special technology in the OLD City and its surroundings in an attempt to keep order.
Agreed.
Maybe of course, you could publish about the resistance of Jews in WW2 to Germans? About Greek Jewish heroes like Col. Mordechai Frizis? Or about the Jews of Zakynthos who were saved by the residents, and who after the earthquake sent the first aid from Israel said: “The Jews of Zakynthos have never forgotten their Mayor or their beloved Bishop and what they did for us.”
The Foundation for the Advancement of Sephardic Studies and Culture writes “One cannot forget the repeated initiatives of the head of the Metropolitan See of Thessaloniki, Gennadios, against the deportations, and most of all, the official letter of protest signed in Athens on March 23, 1943, by Archbishop Damaskinos, along with 27 prominent leaders of cultural, academic and professional organizations. The document, written in a very sharp language, refers to unbreakable bonds between Christian Orthodox and Jews, identifying them jointly as Greeks, without differentiation. It is noteworthy that such a document is unique in the whole of occupied Europe, in character, content and purpose”
Greece was also one of the first states in Europe to grant legal equality to the Jews.
There are many examples of support for Greek Jews during the holocaust and that is admirable and to be remembered and respected. However, that does not make any current antisemitism right, does it ?
I have had responses from Greek Jews who do not share your positive appraisal of Greece towards them. I realise it is difficult to understand prejudice directed at people when it doesn’t affect you directly. I can only suggest listening to other people and trying to really understand how it might be to suffer from a very hidden problem and then not to be taken seriously when you speak up.
When people talk about the “evil Jews” and the “Jewish conspiracy” etc, there are hundreds of people who will jump up and add their two pence worth in agreement. Sadly, when a few people stand up and complain about this kind of rhetoric, they are accused of paranoia and exaggeration (and they usually get a history lesson). Yes, that’s sarcasm but you know what? I’m so fed up of being “nice’.
There is anti-semitic feeling in Greece today. Just because it is only us here on the blog at the moment, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Just because you don’t recognise it or understand what it is or how it feels, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
Again, my suggestion. Let’s just listen and learn what is going on NOW.
Thank you
DD
Grèce-Juifs-antisémitisme-justice,PREV
Les Juifs de Grèce mobilisés contre un brûlot antisémite (PAPIER D’ANGLE)
Par Catherine BOITARD
ATHENES, 27 nov 2007 (AFP) - Un procès contre l’auteur d’un brûlot antisémite, le premier de ce type en Grèce, mobilise la communauté juive locale, qui y voit un test de la détermination des autorités à lutter contre l’antisémitisme et le négationnisme.
“Nous sommes tous en ébullition. S’il n’y a pas condamnation, nous pourrons dire qu’ici l’antisémitisme prospère et est entretenu” affirme à l’AFP Moisis Constantinis, président du Conseil central juif de Grèce (Kis).
Le procès, qui reprendra le 3 décembre après une première audience le 11 novembre dernier, vise un militant néonazi, l’avocat Constantin Plevris, poursuivi pour incitation à la haine et à la violence raciale dans un pavé paru en 2006 sous le titre “Les Juifs, toute la vérité”.
L’ouvrage, vendu 69 euros et qui a déjà fait l’objet d’une réédition, mêle sur près de 1.400 pages déni de l’Holocauste, apologie des nazis et menaces contre les Juifs, qualifiés de “sous-hommes” et d’”ennemis mortels”.
“C’est ce qu’il faut aux Juifs. C’est la seule chose qu’ils comprennent: le peloton d’exécution sous 24 heures”, écrit notamment Constantin Plevris, dans l’un des 42 extraits visés par l’acte d’accusation.
Dans un pays où la littérature antisémite — dont Le Protocole des Sages de Sion — circule librement, et où des télés privées ouvrent leur tribune à M. Plevris et ses amis politiques, le Kis, qui s’est porté partie civile, n’aurait eu en principe qu’à se féliciter des poursuites.
Il s’agit en effet des premières de ce type lancées à l’initiative du parquet, même s’il a fallu pour ce faire un signalement de l’Observatoire grec des accords d’Helsinki (Epse), une ONG de défense des droits des minorités.
Mais l’attitude du parquet et de la présidente du tribunal lors de la première audience ont semé la consternation dans les rangs de la communauté juive: le procureur “s’est tout simplement fait l’avocat de M. Plevris et la présidente ne l’a pas rappelé à l’ordre”, avance M. Constantinis.
Selon un compte-rendu des débats établi par plusieurs militants anti-nazis présents au procès, le procureur a notamment jugé que l’auteur faisait oeuvre “scientifique”. Il a aussi imputé l’apologie de la nuit de Cristal faite par Constantin Plevris à une “plume un peu vive”.
“Pourquoi retirer à M. Plevris le droit de dire qu’Hitler a bien fait?”, s’est aussi interrogé le magistrat.
“Dans n’importe quel autre pays européen de tels propos auraient valu au procureur une procédure disciplinaire. Il serait temps que la Grèce applique la législation européenne anti-raciste”, a commenté auprès de l’AFP Panayote Dimitras, représentant de l’Epse.
A l’exception de quelques articles de presse, ces dérives n’ont suscité aucune réaction du monde politique, en dépit d’interpellations du Kis auprès de tous les partis et d’une demande de rendez-vous, restée jusque là sans suite, avec le ministre de la Justice du gouvernement conservateur.
La seule réaction significative est venue du petit parti d’extrême droite Laos, entré au Parlement avec 10 députés lors des dernières législatives de septembre, qui a tenté de prendre ses distances avec l’auteur du livre.
Sauf que le Laos compte parmi ses membres le fils et avocat de Constantin Plevris, Thanassis Plevris, qui affirmait avant les élections qu’il endossait les idées de son père. Un autre député du parti, Adonis Georgiadis, a longtemps fait la promotion du pamphlet incriminé sur la chaîne Téléasty du président du Laos, Georges Karatzaferis.
La communauté juive de Grèce compte aujourd’hui quelque 6.000 personnes. Environ 50.000 de ses membres, qui vivaient principalement à Salonique (nord), ont été massacrés durant l’occupation nazie.
cb/rh/aag
DD: Plevris’ extreme right-wing views–for example, his longstanding support for the ’67 junta–are well known and documented. Some years ago greeks would laugh at him, but today he can claim he has an audience; and I reckon there’s no need to remind you that there is a party to a certain degree, hmm, let’s say sympathetic to his views. He used to be in its campaigns. His son is today an MP with it, although whenever anyone points it out he cries foul. Sign o’ the times: this country shed a whole lot of blood fighting against the nazis, and here’s a propagandist of their core ideology publishing and appearing on national (trash) tv. Then again, many servants of the nazis became allies of the ol’ good west overnight back then, and they won the civil war too. Or, as his majesty the emperor would suggest, Greece’s version of the “war against terrorism” (try this link).
I wonder whether any left wing filth on these blogs are going to condemn the burning of a school by communist anarchist scum in Athens a couple of weeks ago?
I would have dearly loved to have fought in the civil war and to put a bullet between the eyes of a traitor commie.
Diva, with all due respect, there is anti-Semetism in Israel too..weren’t there some Neo-Nazi’s caught a couple of months ago over there? It is a sad, but worldwide phenomena…with a particularly horrid Protestant/Catholic manifestation….Greece never purged Jews systematically in ANY way…the Turks, Germans, French, Spanish, English…the rest of Europe…did. So, why are manifestations of anti-semetism in Greece so bothersome when it is isolated to a few, and the Greek government does not need to correct past behavior because the behavior of Greece and Greeks should be a model for the rest of the world on how to confront anti-Semetism….that is to protect them from the forces of evil (as Greeks did in WWII).
Just because some sickos are neo-nazis should not allow you or anyone to label the Greek society as a whole anti-Semetic…after all, that would be just as racist as anti-Semetism.
Unfortunately, Jews get blamed for everything. Just ask Greeks who was at fault for the World Trade Center and you will get a few different “Jews did it” scenarios.
Funny thing is this. For a country (Greece) that is so anti-Jewish, why do they worship the most famous jew of all? Jesus Christ? Was he not a Jew?