ELAS for Golden Dawn event: Public meetings are a constitutional right, we do not license them

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As ELAS emphasizes, public gatherings are a constitutional right and are therefore not permitted, while they can only be prohibited if serious crimes are suspected

The Hellenic Police is not expected to authorize public gatherings, it is a constitutional right, says the ELAS Headquarters in response to reports that the Police gave permission for today’s (Saturday) Golden Dawn gathering in Athens. PASOK representative Dimitris Manzos had issued an announcement on the matter.

As characteristically emphasized in the announcement, public gatherings are a constitutional right and are therefore not permitted, while they can only be prohibited if serious crimes are suspected.

At the same time, it is noted that the decisions issued by the competent police departments concern the imposition of restrictions, if it is considered that a gathering will disrupt the socio-economic life of the area.

Finally, ELAS underlines that a decision was issued to impose restrictions on the gathering of Golden Dawn and “…as a result, the relevant statements about licensing are in no way true or correspond to reality”.

The announcement in detail:

“Regarding publications that are reproduced on the internet and refer to a decision of the Hellenic Police which allegedly grants permission for a gathering by a specific group of people, the Headquarters of the Hellenic Police clarifies the following:

• according to the Constitution, public outdoor gatherings are a right and are therefore not permitted,

• upcoming public assembly may be prohibited by a reasoned decision, if serious crimes against life, physical integrity, property and state authority are likely to be committed, while

• the decisions issued by the locally competent Police Directorates, concern the imposition of restrictions, if it is likely that their implementation will disproportionately disrupt the socio-economic life of the area.

“In this case, a decision to impose restrictions was issued and therefore the relevant licensing statements are in no way accurate or true.”

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