ATHENS, Greece – Following weeks of protests by priests and right-wing groups, including members of Parliament (MP) from the ultra-nationalist Golden Dawn Party, a production of Terrence McNally’s Corpus Christi in Athens was forced to close earlier this month.
Now, actors and the producer and director of the play have been charged with blasphemy.
RTE reports that charges of “insulting religion” and “malicious blasphemy” have been filed after Bishop Seraphim of Piraeus lodged a lawsuit against those involved in the play.
The plays director, Laertis Vasiliou, was stunned that the charges had been brought saying, “What I see is that there are people who have robbed the country blind who are not in jail and the prosecutor turns against art.”
Vasiliou and the other defendants could face several months in prison if found guilty by a Greek court. Anti-fascism groups have condemned the charges. A trial date has not yet been set.
As reported in San Diego LGBT Weekly, Oct. 25, Ilias Panagiotaros, one of 18 far-right Golden Dawn MPs elected in June’s general election was filmed shouting homophobic insults outside the theater during a demonstration against the play.
