Neo-nazi party is a criminal organization

October 22, 2020 4:18 PM

After 5,5 years, the landmark trial of Golden Dawn ended with seven former MPs of the neo-Nazi party being convicted as leaders of a criminal organisation (1) (2). All other former MPs were convicted as participants in the organisation. In the final act of a marathon five-year, politically charged trial, the three-judge panel ordered a total of 39 people, including 13 former lawmakers, jailed, rejecting appeals for suspended sentences. It ruled 12 others, including five former lawmakers, would remain free pending their appeals. Thursday's decision came after two weeks of summations by defense lawyers following the prosecutor's recommendation that all former Golden Dawn lawmakers be allowed to remain free pending appeal. (1) (2) (3)

With the last chapter in the story of Europe’s most violent political force finally written, it will not be lost on the protagonists that punishment, in the end, was meted out by a woman. “For a party whose ideology is based on male supremacy, whose worldview is so militaristic, it’s humiliating and will hurt.”

Golden Dawn failed to enter the Parliament in the 2019 elections.

Previously

posted by ersatz (22 comments total)

This news was the best I'd read in a long time!

Good job Greece and its brave public servants! Good job Rule of Law! Good Job JAILING FUCKING NAZIS.
posted by lalochezia at 4:22 PM on October 22, 2020 [23 favorites]

There's hope somewhere.
posted by Saxon Kane at 4:27 PM on October 22, 2020 [1 favorite]

The conviction of the murderer of Fyssas was granted given the evidence. The claims of the leaders that they weren't connected to the murder didn't stand in court and even though real sentences could be as low as three years (since they have already served 18 months back in 2013), they will have to serve time. It won't heal all wounds, but it's a monumental decision for Greece.
posted by ersatz at 4:30 PM on October 22, 2020 [10 favorites]

Here's also a link to a documentary about three women related to top brass of GD with some candid footage.
posted by ersatz at 4:38 PM on October 22, 2020

I just want to make clear that this Golden Dawn is the Greek political party and criminal organization [which I decline to provide a link to], not the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn which was a 19th century magical order based in Britain.
posted by heatherlogan at 4:39 PM on October 22, 2020 [25 favorites]

Good.
posted by Lonnrot at 4:51 PM on October 22, 2020

Fascists slapped down always warms my cold heart!

but those austerity measures that fed into that rile are like ugh.
posted by ovvl at 6:21 PM on October 22, 2020

Is there anyone who actually thought the Greek government was prosecuting a 19th-century British magical order?
posted by neroli at 6:34 PM on October 22, 2020 [7 favorites]

Probably not a lot of love lost between the Greek Govt and 19th Century Britain ....
posted by mbo at 6:39 PM on October 22, 2020 [5 favorites]

A good runup to Oxi Day -- Greece literally has a national holiday that is a celebration of saying "No" to fascism.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:09 PM on October 22, 2020

Q: what do you call 39 jailed nazis?

A: a good start.
posted by brand-gnu at 8:15 PM on October 22, 2020 [19 favorites]

This made me smile. Thanks. Fuck fascism and fuck Nazis.
posted by From Bklyn at 9:39 PM on October 22, 2020 [2 favorites]

Noteworthy, regarding this case: The women who brought down Greece’s Golden Dawn, and Forensic Architecture’s The Murder of Pavlos Fyssas.
posted by progosk at 11:25 PM on October 22, 2020 [2 favorites]

Oh the Nazis are having a bad day because their stupid party is illegal and their leaders are facing punishment? Fantastic news!
posted by wuwei at 11:35 PM on October 22, 2020 [1 favorite]

Is there anyone who actually thought the Greek government was prosecuting a 19th-century British magical order?

It's 2020. I always double check, now.
posted by Lonnrot at 12:03 AM on October 23, 2020 [16 favorites]

I hope this helps unearth more criminal connections between all the unsavory conspiring far right nazi bastards in Europe.
posted by benzenedream at 1:29 AM on October 23, 2020 [5 favorites]

Now do the GOP
posted by moorooka at 1:40 AM on October 23, 2020 [4 favorites]

Now do the GOP

I know that was (semi) in-jest, but these neo-nazi groups do seem to be connected by a wide-ranging web of contacts and string-pullers. It would be interesting to know if there might not be some knock-on effects elsewhere from this trial and any information gained.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:10 AM on October 23, 2020 [1 favorite]

they will have to serve time

As might have been expected, some of them appear loath to do so...
posted by progosk at 5:25 AM on October 23, 2020 [2 favorites]

Congrats to Greece! May this help start a wave of defeats for nazis worldwide.
posted by Grimp0teuthis at 7:25 AM on October 23, 2020 [1 favorite]

Here's also a link to a documentary about three women related to top brass of GD

Golden Dawn Girls is available to rent on Vimeo. (Here’s a couple of subtly chilling scenes...)
posted by progosk at 7:37 AM on October 23, 2020

Finally some good news, part 2.
posted by subdee at 10:44 AM on October 25, 2020