Antisemitism in Greece

Leaders of Greece?s third largest political party, the extreme right Golden Dawn, go on trial April 20 on charges of operating as a criminal organization that allegedly carried out a campaign of violence against immigrants and left-wing opponents.

By Karolina Tagaris

The leaders of Greece's far-right Golden Dawn party refused to show up at court on Monday at the start of a landmark trial in which the elected politicians are accused of forming a criminal gang.

The trial proceeding against 89 members of the Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn started Monday in Athens.

Party leaders have been accused of creating ''a criminal organization'', but they were not present in the court room as reported by AFP. Accusation to party members also included murder, racist violence and possession of weapons.

Greece begins one of its most publicised trials in decades on April 20, with dozens of people linked to the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party facing charges including murder and participation in a criminal organisation.

Anti-fascist groups are planning a protest rally outside Korydallos Prison on Monday when the trial of Golden Dawn?s leadership, MPs and dozens of members and supporters of the party is due to begin despite concerns that the choice of venue could pose a security risk.

The trial of ultranationalist party Golden Dawn, accused of constituting a criminal organization, is due to begin on April 20 amid continued concerns that the venue where it is scheduled to take place is unsuitable.

Golden Dawn MP Artemis Matthaiopoulos and another suspect were cleared on Friday of mugging a man at the Ancient Agora in Athens 10 years ago after two firefighters who witnessed the incident failed to appear as witnesses in court.

Just weeks before the leadership and around 70 members of Golden Dawn are to go on trial, the neo-Nazi party?s second-in-command, Christos Pappas, was released from jail on Sunday as the 18-month limit of pretrial detention expired.

Local officials and activists in Korydallos, southeastern Athens, voiced objections on Tuesday to plans to hold the trial of Golden Dawn MPs and members at a special court within the local prison.

Korydallos Mayor Stavros Kasimatis and municipal councilors voted against the trial being held at the jail because of security fears.

As the Council of Appeals Court Judges on Friday ordered the release of Golden Dawn party chief Nikos Michaloliakos and MP and party secretary Yiannis Lagos, the anti-racism prosecutor launched a preliminary probe into whether the far-right party was inciting hatred by distributing leaflets calling for ?illegal migrants to get out? and advertising a gathering on the issue.