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.
—
You may also like
-
Royalties: turning Belgium into a Queerdom for one queer, royal night
On 26 June 2026, Royalties – Let’s turn Belgium into a Queerdom will bring drag, ballroom and
-
“We are modern people”: what Zelensky’s call for open LGBTQ+ dialogue means in wartime Ukraine
In a rare, explicit reference to LGBTQ+ rights, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on 11 June that
-
Various Voices Brussels 2026: the choir festival is getting its volunteer chorus ready
In less than two months, Brussels will host Various Voices 2026, Europe’s biggest LGBTQI+ choir festival,
-
Pride as mourning and defiance: why Metz needs us to march with them
June is Pride month across the world, a time when marches, parades and festivals celebrate
-
When love becomes a crime: Niger’s new anti-LGBT law and what it means for our communities
Niger has just promulgated a new penal code that, for the first time, explicitly criminalises