Still facing harassment

Update on the situation of Dr. Panayote Dimitras

Human rights defenders in Greece: Under siege by authorities

Dr. Panayote Dimitras, the winner of Ro & SuZ Award 2023, is still facing legal and bureaucratic harassment by the Greek government, in spite of concerns expressed by UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner. An update.

Introduction

For over three decades, Dr. Panayote Dimitras and his NGO, the Greek Helsinki Monitor, have been fighting hate speech, racism, and human rights violations in Greece. Dimitras, a human rights defender with an impressive academic background, has long been a voice for marginalized groups, including ethnic minorities and asylum seekers, in a country that — despite having invented the concept of democracy 2500 years ago — today often struggles with human rights. As a result, this work comes at a high price for human rights defenders. Over the years, Dimitras and other human rights defenders in Greece have faced judicial harassment, smear campaigns, and increasing repression from the state, which has intensified in recent years.

A legacy of human rights advocacy

Founded in 1993, the Greek Helsinki Monitor has worked consistently to promote human rights and challenge discrimination, particularly against minorities. Dimitras, who was forced to resign from his post as Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Athens University of Economics and Business due to his defense of minority rights, has remained diligent in his efforts. His work has not been limited to ethnic minorities but has extended to issues such as hate crimes, religious freedom, and the rights of asylum seekers.

Over the past five years alone, Dimitras has initiated over 900 lawsuits against Greek individuals, authorities and organizations for human rights violations and breaches of anti-racism laws. These actions have angered Greek officials, who have responded with a pattern of harassment designed to suppress Dimitras’ work.

Judicial harassment and smear campaigns

The opposition Dimitras faces is emblematic of the broader challenges human rights defenders experience in Greece. Authorities have employed a range of tactics to intimidate and undermine his efforts, including judicial harassment. In 2020, for instance, the Prosecutor for Racist Crimes charged Dimitras with filing false complaints related to hate crimes. Although these charges were eventually dropped, they marked the beginning of a more sustained campaign of legal and bureaucratic harassment.

The situation worsened in late 2022, when Dimitras was charged with "forming or joining for profit and by profession a criminal organization" for facilitating the entry of asylum seekers into Greece. His crime? Reporting the arrival of asylum seekers on Kos island to ensure their registration — a procedure that aligns with international human rights standards and is often coordinated with bodies like the UNHCR and the Greek Ombudsman.

These charges led to restrictive measures designed to stifle Dimitras' activism. He was banned from working with the Greek Helsinki Monitor and from traveling abroad, subjected to fortnightly check-ins at the police station, and forced to pay a bail of 10,000 euros. His personal bank account was frozen in May 2023. The case, which is widely recognized as an act of retaliation for his work on behalf of asylum seekers, illustrates how authorities in Greece are using the legal system to intimidate and silence human rights defenders.

International condemnation

The actions against Dimitras have not gone unnoticed. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both published reports condemning the Greek authorities' treatment of Dimitras and other human rights defenders. In addition, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner have expressed concern about the Greek government's pattern of harassment, noting that it is part of a broader trend of shrinking space for civil society.

This repression is occurring in a country where the concept of an illiberal democracy has gained traction. Dimitras has long warned that Greece lacks a strong culture of human rights, and the actions of the authorities in recent years have only reinforced this view. The government’s refusal to acknowledge the existence of ethnic minorities, the criminalization of asylum seekers, and the targeting of those who defend human rights all point to a worrying deterioration of democratic principles.

A lifelong commitment to humanist values

Despite these challenges, Dimitras remains committed to his work. In addition to his role at the Greek Helsinki Monitor, he co-founded the Minority Rights Group – Greece in 1992 and the Humanist Union of Greece in 2010, both of which continue to advocate for the rights of marginalized communities in the country. His work has led to significant victories, including a series of European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) rulings against Greece on issues ranging from religious freedom to the rights of same-sex couples. These judgments have forced the Greek government to amend its laws, marking important steps toward greater equality and human rights.

For example, after the ECtHR ruled that Greece had violated the freedom of religion of Greek Helsinki Monitor activists, Dimitras successfully pushed for legal reforms that abolished the mandatory religious oath in criminal proceedings in 2019. In a country where the Orthodox Church wields significant influence, this was a remarkable achievement.

A harsh reality for human rights defenders

The case of Panayote Dimitras illustrates the broader dangers faced by human rights defenders in Greece. Authorities have employed a range of tactics — legal threats, smear campaigns, and bureaucratic obstacles — to suppress dissent and stifle those who dare to challenge the status quo. As the Greek government continues to crack down on civil society, the international community must remain vigilant and support those who stand up for the rights of the most vulnerable.

Dr. Panayote Dimitras' story is one of courage in the face of repression, a reminder that defending human rights often comes with personal and professional costs. Despite the challenges, Dimitras’ lifelong commitment to justice and humanist values continues to inspire and serve as a beacon for the fight against hate, racism, and discrimination in Greece.

[ Top of page ] [ About the winner of Ro & SuZ Award 2023: Panayote Dimitras ] [ To the main page of the Ro and SuZ Award ]

click image for larger version