Brussels may feel far from Athens, but hate knows no borders. On March 10, Greek far-right Member of the Parlement Nikos Papadopoulos (party Niki, “Victory”) stormed into the National Gallery in Athens and vandalised artworks from the exhibition The Allure of the Bizarre, claiming they were “blasphemous.”
Breaking a glass display, he seized pieces that caricatured religious icons, shouting they “offended religion.” This violent outburst followed failed attempts to censor the show through parliament and a formal letter to the gallery.
Papadopoulos, a doctor turned politician representing Thessaloniki’s 2nd district, was briefly detained and sanctioned by parliament. His party, Niki, blends religious fundamentalism and nationalism.
Art reflects freedom and dissent. In moments like these, queer communities—and allies—must stand firm in defending spaces of creation against fanaticism.
This article was written thanks to ANTIVIRUS, as KET.brussels is part of the European LGBTQIA* Media Association.
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