Writer arrested for defamation after suit filed by Christian nationalist candidate

A prominent writer and outspoken critic of the Church of Greece was arrested on Monday after a candidate with the Christian nationalist Greek Solution party sued him for defamation and accused him of violating his religious freedom.

Petros Tatsopoulos was taken into custody in downtown Athens after speaking at an event on religion and education organized at the Free Thinking Zone bookshop. He was released from custody a few hours later.

Tatsopoulos has been sued by TV presenter Filippos Kambouris, who recently announced his candidacy with Greek Solution. Kambouris confirmed the lawsuit in a social media post, where he accused the writer of defamation and of insulting his faith and religious freedom.

The suit came after Tatsopoulos accused Kambouris of exploiting his faith to drum up voter support during a visit to a monastery in Nea Makri, eastern Attica, where...