http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/may/22/greek-justice-kostas-plevris (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/may/22/greek-justice-kostas-plevris)
Greek justice must address racism
The world's oldest democracy should not allow Kostras Plevris, an openly fascist author, to fuel hatred of its Jewish citizens
Jews – The Whole Truth is an extremely lengthy book (1,400 pages) written by Greek author Kostas Plevris. Plevris's plain declaration that he is "a Nazi and a fascist, racist, anti-democratic and an antisemite" sets the tone of the book, but he goes further. While justifying the actions of Hitler and the Nazis, Plevris claims that "ridding Europe of the Jews is necessary because Judaism poses a threat to the freedom of nation". To this he adds, "the history of humankind will hold Adolf Hitler responsible for the following: he did not rid Europe of the Jews while he could".
Extracts from Plevris's book were printed in a Greek nationalist newspaper in 2007, leading to the newspaper's publishers, as well as Plevris, being taken to court, accused of violating a Greek anti-racism law (927/1979), which prohibits incitement to racial discrimination, hatred or violence. Plevris's book was in clear violation of this law and he was given a 14-month suspended sentence. Fairly reasonable it seems, perhaps even a little lenient.
Not so reasonable, however, was the treatment of the Jewish witnesses present during the trial, who were reportedly subjected to appalling intimidation and insults, not only by the defendant, but by the presiding judge and public prosecutor. When a witness suggested that Plevris was inciting racial violence when writing, "Jews should be executed within 24 hours because that is the only thing they understand", the prosecutor replied, "This court is indulging you, but I can't tolerate you ... I will have you arrested and locked up in a cell." Many other comments of a similar nature were permitted or even endorsed by the judge.
But this is not yet the end of the fiasco. Plevris, obviously outraged at being punished at all for his viciously racist words, appealed his sentence. After some delay, the appeal was heard in March 2009, and Plevris was acquitted. This outcome led to outrage, and not only in the Greek Jewish community. How could the Greek courts act with such inconsistency?
During the trial, Plevris's lawyer (his son) claimed that he did not know of the existence of the anti-racism law when writing his book, even though the law is quoted and evaluated in the book itself. In addition, Plevris Jr, who is also an MP for the Greek far-right political party, claimed there was no intent on his father's part to incite hatred or violence when writing his book, and this lack of intent rendered him innocent.
In other words, although he wrote extensively about the advantages of Jews being killed en masse, he didn't really intend for any to be killed. The trouble with this argument is: how and why should we believe him? When Mein Kampf was first published in 1925, there were those who believed it was the ranting of a mad man, and that nothing would come of it. How wrong they were. If only this unmistakable warning had been heeded.
The acquittal of this man, who wrote blatantly provocative literature, which idolises those who committed the most terrible crime against humanity of all time, is the deepest possible insult to democracy. The right to speak and write freely is invaluable in a democratic society, but this right is no longer deserved when one's words seriously hinder the freedom of others. When others are put in danger by a fellow member of society, his actions have curtailed their freedom and he has abused our liberal values.
The Jewish community of Greece, understandably, feels threatened and anxious because of the decision made by this court. As longstanding loyal Greek citizens, they cannot comprehend that in a country where laws have been put in place to prevent an event of this nature occurring, a man such as Plevris has been allowed to triumph.
Greece, widely acknowledged as the birthplace of democracy, has been failed by its own justice system. The values fought for and secured have not been respected but exploited. The Greek courts have done the people of Greece an injustice by failing to implement the anti-racism laws which have been put in place to guarantee Greek democracy.
We call upon the Greek government to live up to its responsibility to its own people and to the world. Justice must be imposed upon Plevris and the Greek courts must demonstrate that western democracy defends the safety and security of its minorities, especially at the expense of those who will preach hate and persecution in the name of freedom.