Minister of Justice Kostas Tsiaras said in an interview with SKAI that the blasphemy provision in the new Penal Code would be withdrawn following the reactions it caused.
Mr Tsiaras attributed the reinstatement of this provision to a Goverment’s “effort to protect the rights of religious minorities, since we,” as he said, “are in the face of events that are adversely affecting Greek society. I am talking about the confrontation between groups of immigrants who settle in the inland and create tensions.” The Minister also noted that at least five European countries had the same provision, and Denmark, which had removed it, reinstated it.
However, he stressed that he did not want the essence to be lost and since there were so many reactions, the provision would be withdrawn.