Greek historian on trial over 'anti-Jewish book'

Costas Plevris "The Jews: The whole truth" has led to a spike in attacks on Jewish monuments in the country.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A far-right Greek historian went on trial Tuesday for allegedly inciting racial hatred with a book that denies the Holocaust took place and allegedly contains offensive references to Jews. Jewish community leaders testified at an Athens court that the book by Costas Plevris "The Jews: The whole truth" has led to a spike in attacks on Jewish monuments in the country. "After the book was published, attacks against Jewish sites increased," said Moses Constantini, head of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece. The trial - Greece's first for inciting racial hatred - was adjourned until Dec. 13. On trial together with Plevris are the publisher, the editor and a journalist on a small right-wing magazine that published extracts from the book. Benjamin Albalas, head of the Jewish Community of Athens, said the book "incites violence ... and encourages people to kill us." Defense lawyers said their clients were being persecuted for freely expressing their views.