Twelve Years After Pavlos Fyssas’ Murder: A Legacy of Antifascism

The news in Greek

1. δολοφονώ
   σκοτώνω κάποιον με πρόθεση και παράνομα ↩︎
2. μέλος  (n.)
   άτομο που ανήκει σε ομάδα ή οργάνωση ↩︎
3. φασισμός  (m.)
   πολιτική ιδεολογία που υποστηρίζει αυταρχικές κυβερνήσεις, ανελευθερία και εθνικισμό ↩︎
4. εγκληματικός
   που έχει σχέση με παράνομες ή ανήθικες πράξεις ↩︎
5. οργάνωση  (f.)
   ομάδα ατόμων που λειτουργεί με τάξη και προγραμματισμό για συγκεκριμένο σκοπό ↩︎
6. αγωνίζομαι
   προσπαθώ έντονα για την επίτευξη ενός στόχου ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Who was Pavlos Fyssas?

Question 2: What was the outcome of the 2020 court decision regarding Golden Dawn?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
δολοφονώ	to murder
μέλος  (n.)	member
φασισμός  (m.)	fascism
εγκληματικός	criminal
οργάνωση  (f.)	organisation
αγωνίζομαι	to struggle

Read the full story

Twelve years have passed since the tragic murder of Pavlos Fyssas, known artistically as Killah P, a 34-year-old antifascist musician whose life was cut short by a fatal stabbing from Giorgos Roupakias, a member of the far-right party Golden Dawn. The incident occurred in the early hours of 18th September 2013 in Keratsini, a suburb of Athens, setting off a wave of public outrage and catalysing the eventual judicial crackdown on the organisation.

Fyssas was watching a football match in a local café with his companion and friends when tensions flared with a small group of Golden Dawn followers present. The altercation swiftly escalated; the local chapter of the party was called, and approximately 50 supporters equipped with weapons arrived. Despite the presence of police officers, the violence led to the fatal attack on Fyssas.

Before succumbing to his injuries, Fyssas identified his attacker to bystanders and authorities. This sparked large-scale antifascist protests across Greece, as society reeled from the brutality of the attack and a concerted demand for justice arose.

The trial of Golden Dawn began in April 2015 and became a landmark case in Europe for prosecuting far-right extremism. On 7th October 2020, the Athens Court of Appeals ruled that Golden Dawn was operating as a criminal organisation. This decision culminated in the conviction of numerous members including high-ranking officials, shutting down the party’s influential machinery of hatred.

Despite the legal victories, the spectre of fascism lingers. A few members of the convicted group have since been released, including some for health reasons, while others seek release after serving portions of their sentences. The movement’s rhetoric has found new platforms online and through emerging nationalist groups, highlighting the persistent challenge of extremism.

The name Pavlos Fyssas continues to symbolise the fight against fascism. Every year, the anniversary of his death serves as a potent reminder that the battle against hatred and division is ongoing. Educators, journalists, and citizens are called to remember and uphold the values of freedom and democracy, ensuring that the horrors of the past do not become an accepted reality in the future.

Info: “Greek Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Greek”, a language school dedicated to teaching Greek. We offer a variety of online courses tailored to different learning levels, ensuring you find the right Greek course that suits your needs.