To whom it may concern
30th of March 2005
Free Gerhard Haderer from the blasphemy accusations in Greece!
The European Council of Artists, gathering interdisciplinary artists' councils and artists' organisations in 25 European countries, was informed by its member the Culture Council of Austria about the case of Gerhard Haderer, writer and cartoonist from Austria.
The original edition of his album "Das Leben des Jesus" was released in Austria and Germany in 2002. Being a religious satire and thus controversial, it was criticised, but nevertheless became a bestseller that also, through the initiative of his publisher, was translated, published and debated in France, Portugal, Czech Republic, Korea, and Hungary.
The Greek edition, however, was confiscated by the Greek authorities in February 2003 after a complaint from the Greek Orthodox church. For the first time in 20 years, a book was banned in Greece, and Gerhard Haderer was charged with blasphemy before a court in Athens.
He was recently condemned to a 6 month sentence, a sentence which he intends to appeal on April 13th. If he loses this appeal the sentence can even be increased.
Gerhard Haderer has not committed any crime and is innocent of blasphemy due to the laws and also due to the public moral in his home country Austria and in other countries in which his album has been published. Nevertheless he might be arrested in any EU-country due to the European arrest warrant system that was introduced in 2002.
ECA is strongly opposed to the accusations against Gerhard Haderer that violate his artistic freedom and the freedom of expression. Furthermore ECA finds the application of antiterrorist measures problematic in this case, as the consequences of religious intolerance in Greece are thus transferred to all EU.
ECA requests adequate measures by national and European authorities
to secure Gerhard Haderer's free movement during the appeal process in order acquit him for the accusations, if necessary also in the European Court of Justice.
Hubert Biebaut
President