(GHM/IFEX) – Contrary to information provided in the IFEX alert update of 18 June, which stated that charges had been dropped against her, teacher Eva Androutsopoulou was in fact found innocent of charges of proselytism in a trial that began and ended on 18 June. The trial went through all procedures (procedural questions and examination […]
(GHM/IFEX) – Contrary to information provided in the IFEX alert update of 18
June, which stated that charges had been dropped against her, teacher Eva
Androutsopoulou was in fact found innocent of charges of proselytism in a
trial that began and ended on 18 June. The trial went through all procedures
(procedural questions and examination of witnesses) and, in the end, she was
found innocent.
**Corrects IFEX alert update 18 June 1998**
Greek Helsinki Monitor apologises for the error.
Background Information
Androutsopoulou 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 (…) 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 alerts).
