The AHC joins the voice of concern to that of the international HR community about the upcoming trial of four Greek citizens from the Macedonian minority to be held in Florina on October 14. We believe that the charges against them are in open contradiction to the law and practices of a democratic country as Greece is and to the international instruments, in particular to the Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe.

The four individuals are accused of "having caused and incited mutual hared among citizens", because they hung a sign in both the Greek and Macedonian languages outside their party office in Florina two years ago.

Any consideration related to the past is not a sufficient basis for a criminal action to be initiated by the state against individuals or an organization that wishes to use its mother language.

We hope that reason will prevail and the Greek Court will drop the charges brought against the four defendants, thus giving one more proof that Greece is fully devoted to the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms as suits a genuine democracy.