Ravi
Diamond Member
Big surprise, eh?
Old Greek Blasphemy Laws Stir Up Modern Drama : NPR
On the pretext of defending Greek identity and the Greek Orthodox faith, a Golden Dawn parliamentary deputy screamed obscenities as he led a mob that stormed a controversial play this October. The mob, which included priests, also threw rocks at those attending the Greek production of Corpus Christi, the Terrence McNally play that portrays Jesus and his apostles as gay men in modern-day Texas.
The director, Laertis Vassiliou, says it was like being attacked by a Christian Taliban.
"For two months they were threatening our lives," he says. "Every day there were letters saying, 'You will burn to hell.' They said to my parents that, 'We will bring your son in a box cut in pieces and in a box.' "
Archbishop Ieronymos strongly condemned the violence though he says the play and the Facebook parody of Elder Paisios are blasphemous.
The state has charged Vassiliou and his cast under the blasphemy law but has dropped the charge against Loizos.
He still faces trial this year for the separate charge of insulting religion which carries up to two years in prison.
Old Greek Blasphemy Laws Stir Up Modern Drama : NPR