The Freedom of Expression under Assault in Contemporary Greece:
Abstract
Many instances of censorship in art have been recorded in contemporary Greece which may be attributed to various reasons: the arbitrary behaviour of institutional bodies, such as the police, the fanaticism of individuals, acting either separately or collectively, and, lastly, the misinterpretation of provisions of the Constitution and the laws. In Greece, a democratic country at the core of the European Union, freedom of expression is safeguarded in every possible way. Nevertheless, censorship, a phenomenon with legal, moral, and societal aspects, is also present, and it is difficult to describe the contradictions emanating from either the State and its institutions or collective bodies, acting in a manner that undermines the freedom of creators to express themselves on the basis of inspiration and talent. It is also difficult to reason with people moving in unclear political, cultural, national, and religious circles; more generally, it is difficult to understand the reasons for their reaction which provokes the collective sentiment. Setting aside many categories of reactions involving censoring behaviour, this paper focuses on instances in which organised groups of citizens have intervened, in a forceful and repressive manner, disregarding the law, in order to impose their own will as the correct one. This is brutal and, by definition, unlawful conduct by persons acting in the name of religion or nation, and it falls under the provisions of criminal law. The aim of these persons is to prevail on the public at large and to create another form of law. The Greek experience shows that the results are troubling, although particularly interesting from a historical point of view.