Deep concern was expressed by the Amnesty International on the decision of the Greek authorities to ban the public gatherings, as this is contrary to the the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Ο Nils Muiznieck, Amnesty International's regional director for Europe, said: «The decision by the Greek authorities to issue a blanket ban on all public gatherings across the country is disproportionate and violates Greece's obligations under international human rights law. Certain restrictions on the right of peaceful assembly to control the pandemic may be permissible, but they must meet the the principles of strict necessity and proportionality. Governments have no blank cheque to restrict human rights, even in these difficult times.».
It should be recalled that according to the general ban ordered by the Chief of the Greek Police, and published on November 14, all public outdoor gatherings of four or more people are prohibited throughout the country between November 15 and 18, 2020. The decision invokes public health protection reasons due to the pandemic and provides for heavy fines for the organisers of such gatherings (€3,000 to €5,000) as well as for the participants (€300).
«The Greek authorities must urgently revoke this ban, which constitutes a serious interference with the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The pandemic should not be used as a pretext to silence critical voices or to undermine human rights.», Nils Muiznieck noted.
CoE: «Constitutional» ban on gatherings for «reasons of public interest»
We recall that the Council of State and its president, Mary Sharpe, rejected «for reasons of public interest» the request of MERA25 and of Association for Human Rights, to annul the decision of the Chief of Hellenic Police. on the prohibition of gatherings of more than four people, in view of the anniversary of the Polytechnic, which aims to prevent the annual march in memory of the victims of the uprising against the dictatorship from taking place.
The decision of the President of the Council of State on the merits considers that the ban on public health grounds, which the National Police invokes to impose the ban, is constitutional.
