An incredible incident occurred last Thursday morning (10.04.2025) at Ierapetrawhen police raided and interrupted the 1st Panhellenic Student Theater Festival, following an anonymous complaint concerning play A school in Rethymnon.
The work selected by the 1st EPAL of Rethymnon was Nigel Williams’ “The Enemy of the Order”. The reason the anonymous complaint was made and therefore the police in the Ierapetra Theater Hall arrived, it is reported that it was the stage of the play in which there is a strong dialogue in a school classroom, which leads. A student to fly on the floor a garland with Greek flagsreports radiolasithi.gr.
Some of the spectators seem to have been annoyed with this snapshot and thus complaining to the Ierapetra Police Department in order to check the situation.
See the scene that caused reactions:
In the “Melina Mercouri” room, 3 police officers were found, who were noticed in the public and after negotiations with those in charge of leaving, finding that the flags were part of the scene, recording the details of the – amazed – responsible teacher of the show.
Beyond the Melina Mercouri hall, the students’ performance was also relied live on the Youtube channel of the event, from which it was removed shortly afterwards.
‘It is an insult for democracy’
ELME Rethymnon has announced the incident, stating that the presence of armed police in a play is an insult for democracy.
ELME’s announcement:
From April 7-11 in the city of Ierapetra the 1st Panhellenic Student Theater Festival, an event that fills us with optimism, hope and joy. Pupils and pupils from all over Greece, together with colleagues, presented theatrical performances that were able to set up and upload with great care and enhancement, thus proving that art, and in this case dramatic, can be a wonderful way of expressing and creativity for our youth. The excitement that has been scattered by young children, unfortunately, is almost tarnished by an incident that unfortunately expresses the neo -neo -righteousness and the darkness of a part of our society.
Specifically, after an anonymous complaint, the police were called to the festival because someone was “outraged” because of the content, directing and all action of a particular show, the one uploaded by the 1st EPAL Rethymnon students.
It would be ridiculous if it was not so serious and dangerous.
The fact that the police rushed (!) At the festival at the time of the show and recorded the details of the responsible teachers, coupled that after the incident, the video platforms were descended from the festival’s online platform. The view of armed police organs in a student art area is Hybris for democracy itself.
The freedom of human expression through art is obviously indisputable. No matter how many people try to return society to plaster and silence times, no matter how nostalgia for censorship begin to be discouraged, daring to target even student performances, they will not pass.
As ELME Lassithi We declare our unequivocal support to the actors of the show And we make it clear that we will be – in our role in the role of rushing – always helpers of human creativity and defenders of the sacred right of man in free artistic expression. We are well aware that the level of artistic freedom reflects the level of freedom of a democracy.
Eventually the “Enemy of the Class” (title of Nigel Williams’ work that was raised by the children) may be in the black and the Middle Ages that resides in the minds of some. Warmest congratulations to the contributors to the festival, to all the children and teachers who participated and mainly to the children and teachers of the 1st EPAL of Rethymnon. The fact that their Committee this year honored the effort of this group with the praise of free expression and work selection is an example for all of us support and protecting the free artistic expression.
ELAS’s response for the incident
After the creation created, ELAS. A press release was placed on reports referring to censorship.
As stated in the press release, the police had to check the situation as required if an anonymous complaint was made.
After talking to the authorities, he then left without creating a bigger problem.
The entire police announcement:
Regarding publications referring to a police presence in a school theatrical performance in Ierapetra, by the Headquarters of the Greek Police, to restore the real image, the following are noted:
The Greek Police always operate with complete respect for the Constitution and the laws of the state, which ensures the freedom of artistic expression and the creativity of young people, especially students.
At the same time however must investigate any complaint, branded or anonymous. In this context, the police also moved in this case, who in no way acted on its own but responded to an anonymous telephone complaint, as provided by the mission and responsibilities of the Greek Police.
The reality is that the police officers, who were currently running an arranged service of the on -board patrol, approached the site of the event with discretion, Without interrupting or hindering the performance, or to carry out any control, entry, recording of students or other action that would limit freedom of expression.
On the contrary, they only talked with the teachers responsible, outside the event room, in order to find out and find out the complainants.
Consequently, any other interpretation or presentation of the facts aimed at creating impressions of allegedly “censorship” or “police arbitrariness”, lacks any objective basis and does not correspond to reality.
The Greek Police remains committed to its institutional role, with the priority of preserving public order and security and protecting the rights of all citizens.
Radiolasithi.gr reports that there was the record of the data of the teachers who participated in the play, although the police stressed that this was not the case.