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Source: Reuters -
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A Greek court ruled the country's first homosexual weddings,
celebrated last year despite official warnings, were invalid, the
couples' lawyer said.
Last year, a gay and a lesbian couple defied the threat of criminal
charges and the wrath of the Greek Orthodox Church to tie the knot
on a tiny Aegean island, abetted by a local mayor.
The couples had said they took advantage of a loophole in Greek
civil law, which does not specify gender in matrimony, and took
vows in June at municipal offices on the island of Tilos.
A public prosecutor from the neighbouring island of Rhodes took the
case to court saying neither the constitution nor the law referred
to same-sex marriage.
He asked the court cancel the weddings and rule the mayor's move
to officiate illegal.
"The court said the weddings were invalid," the defendants' lawyer,
Vassilis Hirdaris, said.
"We will appeal within May ... but I fear the appeal court's
decision won't be different, considering how conservative Greek
courts are."
While many European countries have established legislation
recognising gay marriage or same-sex partnerships, Greek society
traditionally has turned a blind eye to homosexuality.
The marriages drew strong criticism from the powerful Orthodox
Church, which officially represents 90% of the 11 million-strong
population.
The Justice ministry had also said the weddings were
illegal.
Hirdaris said the couples were determined to take the case to the
European Court of Human Rights, if the appeal court ruled against
them.
One of the spouses, Evangelia Vlami, said the lesbian couple's
joint tax declaration had been accepted by the finance ministry,
which could put officials in a difficult position.
"Greece is depriving some of its citizens of their human rights,"
Vlami said.
