Art Under Siege: Controversial Attack by Greek Lawmaker

A Greek lawmaker from the far-right Niki party, Nikolaos Papadopoulos, attacked artworks at a National Gallery exhibition, claiming they offended religious sentiments. The incident led to his temporary detention and prompted closure of the gallery. The damaged paintings were inspired by Spanish master Goya.

In a shocking incident, a far-right Greek lawmaker attacked an art exhibition at the National Gallery in Athens, claiming the artworks were offensive due to their distorted depictions of religious icons.

The lawmaker, identified as Nikolaos Papadopoulos from the ultra-religious Niki party, targeted pieces inspired by Spanish master Francisco de Goya, leading to significant damage.

The attack has sparked debates around artistic freedom and censorship, with the Hellenic League for Human Rights emphasizing the constitutional protection of artistic expression.

(With inputs from agencies.)