On the one hand Greece is – rightfully – proud for the solidarity demonstrated towards migrants and refugees. On the other there is a hateful Greece that is demonstrating its ugly racist and xenophobic face at every opportunity. The occupation by far-right so-called Greeks in the area in Votanikos, in order to prevent the construction of the mosque that has been promised by the State to the thousands of Muslims legally residing in Greece – as well as the thousands of refugees stranded here – unfortunately proves that racism and extreme nationalism have deep roots in a section of our society.

In the past we may have paid dearly for the extreme nationalist delusions, however the crisis has brought back some of its worst forms. The extreme populism and xenophobia have found fertile ground once again. Golden Dawn and other marginalized far right groups not only reared their ugly face, but they have found an audience in a section of society that is not negligible.

So by using the homeless as an excuse they are once against trying to sabotage the creation of a place of worship for Muslims. The official State has so far limited itself to denunciations and refusing to implement the law, leaving a few dozen fanatics to block a political decision which the grand majority in Parliament approved.

Worst of all though are the far right and xenophobic voices in support of the Archbishop. By adopting extremist opinions from the clergy, Archbishop Ieronymos appeared not only opposed to the Mosque, despite the previous decision within the Church hierarchy, but he spoke of anti-hellenism and dechristianization. From a preacher of love and solidarity he turned into a preacher of xenophobia.

For the Archbishop the Greeks who are suffering are first class citizens, while the refugees are second-class citizens not worthy of the Church’s help, since they are being taken care of the foreign centers of power that want to spoil our national and religious consciousness…

It is truly shameful for the head of the Church to support the opinions of far right and racist groups. Religious fanaticism and xenophobia were never good counselors. The marginalization of those who hold different beliefs in faith or other matters leads nowhere other than further entrenching fanaticism. Everyone must realize that we have enough other problems as a county and society to add another one…

TO VIMA