Greece bans protests near memorial outside parliament

Visitors gather to watch the change of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, situated in front of the Greek Parliament, prior to the vote on an amendment which bans protests and any alterations in the area, in Athens, Greece, October 22, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki

ATHENS (Reuters) -Greece's parliament banned demonstrations near a prominent war memorial outside its building in Athens on Wednesday despite criticism by opposition parties that the new restrictions violated people's right to rally in public.

The large paved area around the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a century-old relief depicting a fallen warrior holding a shield and wearing an ancient Greek helmet, was a focal point of anti-austerity protests during Greece's 2009-2018 debt crisis.