Austrian Author Receives Suspended Six-Month Prison Sentence
Action Alert Update - Greece
February 2, 2005
read this page in Macedonian
Source: Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC), International
PEN, London;
International Publishers' Association (IPA), Geneva
**Updates IFEX alert of 15 October 2004**
(WiPC/IPA/IFEX) - The following is a joint WiPC, IPA and International Booksellers
Federation (IBF) appeal to Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis:
Kostas Karamanlis
Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic
Maximos Mansion ("Megaro Maximou")
19, Herodou Attikou str
GR-106 74 Athens
02 February 2005
Your Excellency,
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN, the International
Publishers' Association and the International Booksellers Federation
jointly condemn the sentencing of Austrian author, Gerhard Haderer,
by a Greek Court to six-months in prison for his book "The Life
of Jesus" as absurd. The decision flies in the face of international
standards guaranteeing freedom of expression and to which the Greek
government has pledged its commitment.
Gerhard Haderer was tried alongside his Greek publisher, Mr. Chatzopoulos,
of Oxy Publishing, and four booksellers, on charges of blasphemy. The
trial started in December 2003, and concluded on 18 January 2005 with
the conviction of Haderer and the acquittal of the publisher and booksellers. "The
Life of Jesus" is an illustrated book with humorous intent. The
Greek courts considered its depiction of Jesus as a hippie as defamation
and ridicule. The book has been published in a number of other countries
without controversy or judicial action.
The six-month sentence against Haderer was suspended. He is not resident
in Greece and will only face imprisonment if he enters the country.
However, the Writers in Prison Committee, the International Publishers'
Association and the International Booksellers Federation believe that
the conviction is aimed at deterring others from writing or publishing
similar works.
The Greek government has pledged itself to the protection of the right
to freedom of expression through its ratification of both the European
Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and
Political rights, both of which carry articles that explicitly guarantee
this right.
International PEN, the International Publishers' Association and the
International Booksellers Federation call on the Greek authorities to
review legislation that allows the sentencing of writers solely for
their writings and in contravention of the Greek government's commitment
to freedom of expression. We understand that Haderer's lawyers are considering
an appeal against the sentence and we very much hope that such a review
will result in the rescinding of the conviction.
We would be most interested in any comments that you may have on the
contents of this appeal.
Yours sincerely,
Karin Clark
Chair
Writers in Prison Committee
International PEN
Lars Grahn
President
Freedom to Publish Committee
International Publishers' Association
Eric Hardin
President
International Booksellers Federation
CC:
Mr. Anastasis P. Papaligouras, Minister of Justice
International PEN is the world association of writers representing
members in 94 countries. IPA is the world association of publishers
representing members in 78 countries. IBF is the world association of
booksellers representing members in 32 countries.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send appeals to the prime minister:
- condemning the sentencing of Haderer
- calling on the authorities to review legislation that allows
the
sentencing of writers solely for their writings and in contravention
of the Greek government's commitment to freedom of expression
APPEALS TO:
Kostas Karamanlis
Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic
Maximos Mansion ("Megaro Maximou")
19, Herodou Attikou str
GR-106 74 Athens
E-mail: info@primeminister.gr
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
For further information, contact the WiPC, International PEN, 9/10
Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, London EC1M 7AT, U.K.,
tel:
+44 207 253 3226, fax: +44 207 253 5711,
e-mail: intpen@gn.apc.org,
Internet: http://www.internationalpen.org.uk,
or the IPA, 3, avenue de
Miremont, Ch-1206, Geneva, Switzerland,
tel: +41 22 346 30 18, fax: +41
22 347 57 17,
e-mail: krikorian@ipa-uie.org, secretariat@ipa-uie.org, Internet:
http://www.ipa-uie.org
The information contained in this action alert update is the sole responsibility
of WiPC and IPA. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit WiPC and IPA.
DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION EXCHANGE
(IFEX) CLEARING HOUSE
489 College Street, Suite 403, Toronto (ON) M6G 1A5 CANADA
tel: +1 416 515 9622 fax: +1 416 515 7879
alerts e-mail: alerts@ifex.org general
e-mail ifex@ifex.org
Internet site: http://www.ifex.org/
|