Athens- Greece said it would uphold a ban on same-sex marriages in spite of a European court ruling last year saying the country was violating human rights.
Greek Justice Minister Haralambos Athanasiou said on Tuesday in Athens that as a country that respected traditions and respects the nature of man, same-sex marriage was simply not possible, at least under the present government.
“I will not discuss it, neither will I even consider it, just don’t mention it,” he said.
Athanasiou said that he planned to establish a committee which would review the laws governing marriage in Greece, and explore the terms of civil unions.
“We are limiting ourselves to issues concerning social security insurance, pensions and inheritances,” he said.
Last year, the European Court of Human Rights said Greece was wrong to exclude same-sex couples from any type of legal recognition.
Following the court ruling, Greece had to pay six gay rights campaigners 6,200 dollars in damages after they took the country to court over the perceived lack of action undertaken by the government.
Athanasiou said in reaction to the European court decision, “We cannot turn a blind eye but we need to look at the issue from a religious, political and societal perspective.” (dpa/NAN)
