Thessaloniki, Greece – A Greek legislator from the ruling New Democracy party, Stratos Simopoulos, has reported receiving a written threat from the “Golden Dawn Youth” due to his vote in favor of legislation permitting same-sex marriage. Simopoulos is urging the Church of Greece and opposition lawmakers who opposed the law to condemn this threatening action.
The threatening letter was discovered pasted outside Simopoulos’ office in Thessaloniki, the northern port city he represents in Parliament. The letter, typed on a computer and protected in a plastic envelope, vowed to undertake “everything necessary” to remind the Greek people of Simopoulos’ decision to support the legislation, which the letter claimed “defies Hellenic morals” and “Church principles.”
The signatories, allegedly linked to the now-disbanded neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, asserted their right to express opposition to the government’s “unnatural choices.” They also warned that Simopoulos would be considered “unwelcome” at political or religious events.
Simopoulos, responding to the threat, stated, “I take it as a given that the Church of Greece will express its opposition to this action and any similar actions, and will protect those members of Parliament who supported the bill.” He further called for condemnation from parties that opposed the legislation, urging them to cease inflaming such incidents with extreme rhetoric.
