Latest news with #NikolaosPapadopoulos
Euronews
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Greek lawmaker arrested for attacking ‘offensive' paintings in Athens
Nikolaos Papadopoulos, of the small right-wing, ultra-religious Niki party, attacked the paintings in The National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum. The exhibition includes works that caricature religious icons and themes. ADVERTISEMENT Greece's National Gallery said a Greek lawmaker attacked four paintings in an exhibition at the museum in Athens, including one he had previously criticized as offensive on religious grounds. The National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum shut down after the attack, with visitors turned away. Police detained Nikolaos Papadopoulos - of the small right-wing, ultra-religious Niki party which holds 10 of parliament's 300 seats - for several hours on Monday before releasing him. The museum issued a statement saying Papadopoulos and one other person attacked the paintings that were part of an exhibition of Greek artists titled 'The Allure of the Bizarre,' throwing them to the floor and shattering glass in the frames. The exhibition includes works that caricature religious icons and themes, and runs as an accompaniment to a display of 80 engravings by the Spanish master Francisco Goya. Papadopoulos previously said in parliament that one of the Greek paintings was offensive to Orthodox Christianity, the predominant religion in Greece, asserting that it insulted the Virgin Mary and Christ. 'I took down four icons, four blasphemous icons, and in two of those ... the glass pane broke, nothing else,' Papadopoulos told reporters after he was released. He said works at the exhibition 'insult the Virgin Mary, St George ... the archangels that we in our homes were taught to worship and respect.' In a statement issued Monday evening, the gallery's board of directors said it 'unreservedly condemn(s) every act of vandalism, violence and censorship which violate the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression.'
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Greece's National Gallery temporarily closed following arrest of lawmaker after artworks damaged
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek police detained a member of parliament Monday after he allegedly attacked art works which are part of at an exhibition in the country's National Gallery in Athens. Nikolaos Papadopoulos, who is a member of the small ultra-religious Niki party, allegedly smashed glass cases and attacked works he considered blasphemous. The gallery has been closed. The works were reportedly part of an exhibition of Greek artists titled 'The Allure of the Bizarre' that included caricatures of religious icons and themes. The exhibition, which opened in January and is scheduled to run until September, accompanies a parallel display of 80 works by the late 18th century and early 19th century Spanish master Francisco Goya. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. The National Gallery issued a statement saying its operation was being 'temporarily suspended due to the attack on works of art.' It did not give any details of which works were attacked and what damage was caused. Papadopoulos, whose right-wing Niki party holds 10 of parliament's 300 seats, had previously said in parliament that the exhibition was blasphemous and against the Virgin Mary and Christ. Formed in 2019, Niki, or Victory, offers a mix of Orthodox Christian traditionalism and nationalism. The Culture Ministry responded that it acts 'with the aim of protecting the country's cultural and artistic heritage in general' and that it 'never engages in acts of censorship.'
Washington Post
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Greece's National Gallery temporarily closed following arrest of lawmaker after artworks damaged
ATHENS, Greece — Greek police detained a member of parliament Monday after he allegedly attacked art works which are part of at an exhibition in the country's National Gallery in Athens . Nikolaos Papadopoulos, who is a member of the small ultra-religious Niki party, allegedly smashed glass cases and attacked works he considered blasphemous. The gallery has been closed.
Associated Press
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Greece's National Gallery temporarily closed following arrest of lawmaker after artworks damaged
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek police detained a member of parliament Monday after he allegedly attacked art works which are part of at an exhibition in the country's National Gallery in Athens. Nikolaos Papadopoulos, who is a member of the small ultra-religious Niki party, allegedly smashed glass cases and attacked works he considered blasphemous. The gallery has been closed. The works were reportedly part of an exhibition of Greek artists titled 'The Allure of the Bizarre' that included caricatures of religious icons and themes. The exhibition, which opened in January and is scheduled to run until September, accompanies a parallel display of 80 works by the late 18th century and early 19th century Spanish master Francisco Goya. The National Gallery issued a statement saying its operation was being 'temporarily suspended due to the attack on works of art.' It did not give any details of which works were attacked and what damage was caused. Papadopoulos, whose right-wing Niki party holds 10 of parliament's 300 seats, had previously said in parliament that the exhibition was blasphemous and against the Virgin Mary and Christ. Formed in 2019, Niki, or Victory, offers a mix of Orthodox Christian traditionalism and nationalism. The Culture Ministry responded that it acts 'with the aim of protecting the country's cultural and artistic heritage in general' and that it 'never engages in acts of censorship.'
