Nikos Paraskevopoulos

A bill aimed at decongesting Greece?s overcrowded prisons, which includes a provision foreseeing house arrest instead of detention in some cases, has prompted the vehement opposition of prosecutors who fear it will lead to the uncontrolled release of inmates, but has cheered convicts.

Friends and family members of jailed terrorist suspects and convicts currently on hunger strike, staged a protest outside Greek Parliament on Syntagma Square on Thursday. Raising a banner in front of the monument of the Unknown Soldier, a popular tourist spot, the protesters called for ?victory? for the prisoners.

The government is considering putting the Citizens? Protection Ministry under the auspices of the Justice Ministry in a bid to boost both civil rights and public order, sources said on Wednesday a few hours after anti-establishment protesters entered the courtyard of Parliament.

Just weeks before the leadership and around 70 members of Golden Dawn are to go on trial, the neo-Nazi party?s second-in-command, Christos Pappas, was released from jail on Sunday as the 18-month limit of pretrial detention expired.

Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos said that the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) government has no intention of seizing the Goethe Institute. He made this statement on Thursday during a meeting with representatives of the relatives of victims of Nazi atrocities committed in the town of Distomo during WWII.

Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos denied on Tuesday ever talking about confiscating the German state-owned Goethe Institute in Athens.

Noting that not a single Greek citizen -including him- would have wanted this historical educational institute to be seized he denied ever making such a statement.

Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos denied on Tuesday the government was planning to seize German assets as compensation for a Nazi atrocities during World War II.

?No Greek citizen would want the confiscation of a historic educational/cultural institute like the Goethe [Institute in Athens],? Paraskevopoulos said in a statement.

Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos insisted on Thursday that the government?s plans to pass legislation allowing the release of prisoners suffering from disabilities had nothing to do with November 17 terrorist Savvas Xeros, who is also set to benefit from the proposed measures.

Perpetrators of bullying could face a minimum six-month prison term if found guilty if a special provision drafted by Greek Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos becomes law.

The provision, which the ministry says was expected to fill a legal vacuum, is being drafted as part of legislation regarding the abolition of C-type maximum security prisons.

Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos on Tuesday put up for public consultation a prison reform bill that will allow convicted November 17 terrorist Savvas Xeros, among others, to be released from prison.