The Greek Orthodox Church replies to the Report of the U.S. State Department

On 2 December 2005, the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church addressed U.S. Ambassador to Greece Charles Ries a letter criticizing some provisions and evaluations of the U.S. Department of State Religious Freedom Annual Report on Greece.

The Holy Synod accurately analyzes some accusations expressed in the Report and describes them as groundless. Thus, disproved is the Report’s statement that some religious organizations in Greece cannot acquire real estate property and representatives of some religious movements cannot work in public sector. The Holy Synod refers to the Greek Code of Civil Law, which guarantees equal rights for everyone. The Synod also turned down the assertion that Archbishop of Athens and All Greece was against the erection of an Islamic mosque in Athens and stated that he only doubted the need of building an Islamic cultural center. As far as the ‘Law on Proselytism’ is concerned, the Synod notes that the USA has a similar law.

The Report’s information is characterized as ‘entirely inaccurate, unfounded and misleading’. The Holy Synod recommends U.S. Ambassador to ‘censure his assistants severely for leading him to formulate so unfounded views and to put his signature under such an imperfect document’.

M. Yannaku, Greek Minister for Education and Religion, also commented on the Report of State Department. She says the Constitution of Greece guarantees the freedom of conscience for all people residing in Greece and this policy will be pursued in the future.

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