A law silencing transparency
Karystianou highlights that the new law, which prohibits live reporting, filming, or audio recording of trials, poses a serious threat to press freedom and judicial transparency. “Beyond the unconstitutional arbitrariness of the provision, considering the trial of the Tempe case and beyond, I see an attempt to conceal tragic revelations and exonerate the truly guilty,” she writes.
Her concerns come in the wake of the catastrophic train collision in Tempe, which claimed 57 lives, including her own child. Karystianou accuses the provision of aiming to shield those responsible for systemic failures from public scrutiny, calling it “unacceptable and fraudulent.”
Broader implications
The provision, detailed in a Government Gazette published on July 5, prohibits the total or partial transmission of trials through any medium, including television, radio, or the internet. Lawyer Thanasis Kambayannis criticised the legislation, stating:
“The government’s intention is clear: they are legislating against live court reporting. This will not restore trust in the judiciary. Believing that secrecy will resolve public skepticism is both foolish and counterproductive.”
An urgent call for action
Karystianou’s letter emphasises the need for transparency to uphold democracy and the rule of law. “Judicial proceedings must remain independent and accessible under conditions of non-negotiable transparency,” she argues.
She calls on members of the judiciary to resist inaction, framing it as complicity in perpetuating an undemocratic reality. “The inaction of those in positions to bring change plunges the rest of us into a torturous and undemocratic reality,” she warns.
A personal plea
Karystianou’s appeal is deeply personal, drawing on the pain of losing her child in the Tempe disaster. “I lost my child to the consequences of corruption. Fifty-six other families share this pain. Enough is enough,” she writes.
Her letter concludes with a plea to safeguard the future and ensure that judicial processes remain transparent and fair for all.
“As parents and responsible citizens, we must care about the society we leave behind. We owe it to future generations to protect their safety and well-being.”
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