The Ministry of Justice is working on what will likely be the first bill that introduces a number of serious penalties and sentences for racism and xenophobia. Among the penalties are deprivation of political rights, imprisonment between 3 months and 6 years and fines up to 20,000 euros.

The bill will apply to people who publicly provoke and incite violence against a person or group of people based on race, religion, origin or sexual orientation. The bill will also apply to those who deny or trivialize the importance of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crimes of Nazism and fascism.

The Deputy Minister of Justice Kostas Karagounis explained that “those usually responsible for these crimes get off the hook by referring to freedom of speech” and “most countries innovate and their legislation goes further than the minimum European legal requirements. Greece should also follow these innovative regulations and not be last in line with ambiguities, exceptions and deterrent penalties which exacerbate the problem. Xenophobes and racists, claiming public order, take advantage of such ineffective regulations in order to get away and act with impunity”.

Political leaders found guilty under the bill will have State funding towards their party suspended. MPs will have to be careful, even from the stand in Parliament, since their parliamentary immunity can be automatically revoked in order to face trial where they also face a deprivation of political rights for up to three years, according to the Ministry’s bill. That means that they will automatically lose their position in Parliament. According to preliminary reports, most parties are positive about the bill, with some parties even suggesting minor improvements for harsher sentences.