Amnesty International: Court ruling ‘clear message’ to political groups promoting violence & racism in Europe
People gather outside Athens’ courthouse, as they wait for the verdict of the trial of the ultra-right party Golden Dawn (Chrysi Avgi), in Athens , Greece, 07 October 2020. The verdict in the trial of the ultra-right party Golden Dawn – a trial unprecedented on a global scale in recent history – is due to be announced by an Athens Criminal Appeals Court. With its ruling, the court is called on to decide whether the accused are guilty or not guilty of forming a criminal organisation and to provide an answer to an issue of critical legal and social importance, which will have a profound impact on the present and future, regarding a political party that was elected to the Greek and European parliaments in three separate elections. Based on the charges, Golden Dawn was a criminal organisation that had the legal form of a party and enjoyed enhanced constitutional protection as a result. EPA/ORESTIS PANAGIOTOU
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The Athens Appeals Court verdict on Golden Dawn “sends a clear message to political groups with aggressive anti-migrant and anti-human rights agendas in Greece and across Europe that violent and racist criminal activity – whether perpetrated by individuals on the street or members of parliament – will not go unpunished,” Amnesty International’s Europe Director Nils Muiznieks said on Wednesday.
In a statement, he added that “Golden Dawn’s activities exposed a fissure that exists not just within Greek society, but across Europe and beyond.”
Calling the decision a “landmark ruling”, Muiznieks expressed the hope that it “will mark a turning point to deter racist violence and hate crimes in the future.”
Source: ANA – MPA
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Court finds Golden Dawn leadership guilty of forming criminal organisation