Ilias Panagiotaros Explained

Ilias Panagiotaros (el| Ηλίας Παναγιώταρος; born 1973)^[1] is a former member of the Hellenic Parliament, representing Golden Dawn and was later tried and convicted of belonging to a criminal organization.^{[2] [3]} In September 2013, Panagiotaros was arrested along with four other Golden Dawn MPs as part of a police investigation of the murder of Pavlos Fyssas, which Golden Dawn was accused of being involved in.^{[4] [5]} Panagiotaros was charged in court and stood accused of being a member of a criminal organization. In 2020, he was found guilty and sentenced to 13 years in prison.^{[6] [7]}

In April 2014, Panagiotaros described Hitler as a "great personality, like Stalin" and denounced homosexuality as a "sickness." Panagiotaros also described most Muslim immigrants to Greece as "Jihadists" and "fanatic Muslims" and claimed that he supported the concept of a one-race nation, stating, "if you are talking about nation, it is one race."^[8]

Notes and References

1. http://www.mediamouse.gr/index.php?id=7880 mediamouse.gr
2. News: Kotsoni . Elektra . Greece's Golden Dawn Is Coming . VICE United Kingdom . May 6, 2012 . 2014-02-14.
3. Web site: Antonopoulos. Paul. Golden Dawn Found Guilty In Running A Criminal Organization. greekcitytimes.com. 2021-10-18. en-US.
4. News: Alderman. Liz. Greece Arrests Senior Members of Far-Right Party. The New York Times. 28 September 2013. 8 February 2014 .
5. News: Labropoulou. Elinda. Greece: Golden Dawn party leader and 4 lawmakers arrested, police say. CNN. 28 September 2013. 8 February 2014 .
6. News: Stamouli. Nektaria. Greek Parliament Votes to Lift Immunity of Golden Dawn Deputies. The Wall Street Journal. 16 October 2013. 8 February 2014.
7. Web site: Golden Dawn leadership sentenced to 13 years each; life + 14 years for Roupakias (Update) . 2023-08-30 . www.amna.gr.
8. News: Smith . Helena . Greece's Golden Dawn party describes Hitler as 'great personality' . The Guardian . 16 April 2014 . 28 December 2022.