(GHM/IFEX) – Greek Helsinki Monitor reports that the charges against teacher Eva Androutsopoulou for proselytism have been dropped. **Updates IFEX alert dated 27 May 1998** Background Information Androutsopoulou was to have gone on trial on 18 June in Komotini (in northeastern Greece) for the violation of Article 4 of the Obligatory Law 1363/1938. She was […]
(GHM/IFEX) – Greek Helsinki Monitor reports that the charges against teacher
Eva Androutsopoulou for proselytism have been dropped.
**Updates IFEX alert dated 27 May 1998**
Background Information
Androutsopoulou was to have gone on trial on 18 June in Komotini (in
northeastern Greece) for the violation of Article 4 of the Obligatory Law
1363/1938. She was charged with proselytism, which allegedly occurred when
she was teaching German in a private tutorial school. The charges were as
follows: “in the month of May 1995 and on a date that was not ascertained,
she proselytised by abusing the inexperience of others (â¦) attempting in an
indirect way, that is by making frequent references during class time to
Buddhism and to religious beliefs of the Orient, to introduce pupils to the
religious consciences of believers in different dogmas (`heterodox’), aiming
at changing the content of their religious conscience.” Greek Helsinki
Monitor noted that Androutsopoulou is not a Buddhist. The prosecution was
triggered by a report to the public prosecutor by the Bishop of Komotini
(see IFEX alert).
