(IPI/IFEX) – IPI is deeply concerned about the Greek authorities’ escalating use of criminal libel legislation in an evident attempt to muzzle critical journalists. The organisation feels it imperative that this issue be brought to light at the EU summit meeting which Victor Klima, Federal Chancellor of Austria and President of the Council of the […]
(IPI/IFEX) – IPI is deeply concerned about the Greek authorities’ escalating
use of criminal libel legislation in an evident attempt to muzzle critical
journalists. The organisation feels it imperative that this issue be brought
to light at the EU summit meeting which Victor Klima, Federal Chancellor of
Austria and President of the Council of the European Union, will host in
Vienna on 11 and 12 December 1998.
**Updates IFEX alerts as noted in text**
Despite the fact that Greece has signed and ratified several international
treaties guaranteeing freedom of expression, the country is quickly
isolating itself from its fellow European Union member states by punishing
journalists with prison sentences.
On 1 April, an Athens court sustained on appeal the prison sentence of four
years and two months for “libel” and “publishing a false document” against
Makis Psomiadis, journalist and owner of the daily Onoma, and ordered that
he be incarcerated. Psomiadis actually served a few months in prison before
being released on health grounds (see IFEX alert of 3 April 1998).
Giorgos Kondyloudis, journalist and publisher of Eolika Nea, a daily on the
island of Mytilini, was convicted on 3 September 1998 to 8 months in prison
for insulting deputy Franklinos Papadelis. He appealed the verdict and the
sentence is currently suspended pending appeal (see IFEX alerts of 8 October
and 18 September 1998).
On the same day, Yannis Tzoumas, journalist and publisher of Alithia, a
daily on the island of Chios, was convicted to four months’ imprisonment for
defaming Minister Stavros Soumakis for writing that the minister had stayed
at the house of a business man who was under investigation, and implying
that the minister had used his powers to procure scarce airline tickets.
During the trial, the facts were confirmed as accurate, but the court
considered that the “harsh style” of the article was an act of defamation
(see IFEX alert of 18 September 1998).
On 17 September 1998, journalist Makis Triantafyllopoulos was convicted and
given a suspended sentence of eight months for the defamation of Minister of
Justice Evangelos Yannopoulos. In the article, he had argued that the
minister was interfering with justice in a case implicating the governor of
the Social Security Fund, Gregory Solomos, to seek favourable treatment of
the latter (see IFEX alerts of 8 October and 18 September 1998).
Avriani newspaper publisher George Kouris, editor George Tsiroyannis and
journalist Stelios Vorinas were sentenced to 4 years and 11 months in prison
on 21 September 1998. They were convicted for aggravated defamation and
insult of a local businessman and publisher (see IFEX alerts of 8 October
and 25 September 1998).
These examples of a legal media clampdown seem to reflect the current
political climate in Greece. In August, for example, the Minister of Justice
Evangelos Yannopoulos announced his intention to introduce an additional
paragraph to Articles 361 on insult and 362 on defamation of the Greek Penal
Code, which would allow for at least two years’ imprisonment in cases of
insult and defamation through the electronic media. Moreover, he stated he
was also considering introducing fines of up to 5,000,000 drs. ($17,000) for
such “crimes” and compelling the electronic media to broadcast full identity
data of all individuals whose messages will be broadcasted (see IFEX alerts
of 24 August 1998).
The European Court of Human Rights has pronounced on several occasions that
public figures must accept a greater level of scrutiny and criticism than
private individuals; only a vociferous press can adequately stimulate the
public debate and perform the role of public watchdog. Furthermore, it is
widely accepted in functioning democracies around the globe that press
offences should be dealt with in the civil code. Anybody who feels
wrongfully harmed can seek redress through the civil courts in the form of a
retraction, apology or compensatory payment for demonstrable damages.
Issuing prison sentences to impede the free flow of ideas and opinions is
quite plainly not compatible with democratic principles.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the President of the Council of the European Union:
50th anniversary celebrations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
to call attention to these democratic shortcomings and to insist that Greece
immediately comply with its obligations under international law. Imprisoning
journalists, or threatening to imprison journalists, who strongly criticise
those holding public positions, is an affront to the fundamental principles
upon which the European Union is built
Appeals To
H. E. Victor Klima
Federal Chancellor of Austria
Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Vienna, Republic of Austria
Fax: +32 2 285 73 97 / 81
e-mail: vklima@spoe.or.at
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
