B’nai B’rith International commends the Greek legislature for passing a law strengthening the country’s anti-discrimination laws and making it a crime to deny the Holocaust. This decisive action by lawmakers comes at a time of need as the rise of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn Party has sparked anti-Semitic and xenophobic crimes throughout the country.

The law was passed by parliament on Sept. 9 after a year of debate. It increases jail time for offenders from two to three years and sets the fine at $26,000 as the maximum penalty for “inciting acts of discrimination, hatred or violence” based on religion, race or disability.

This change in policy, updating anti-discrimination legislation passed in 1979, is a positive and necessary step toward tolerance and inclusiveness in Greek society.