NEW YORK (EJP)---The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has condemned the presence of a representative of the Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn as a new member of  a committee on ‘equality and non-discrimination’ of the Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly, calling it “an affront to concepts of equality and non-discrimination.”

Golden Dawn party member and parliamentarian Eleni Zaroulia joined the committee on October 1^st.

Chryssi Avgi (Golden Dawn) sent shockwaves through Europe by winning seats in Greek parliament in the May elections, the first time that the extreme-right has been represented since the end of Greece's military junta in 1974.   

Party leader Nikos Michaloliakos has declared there were no gas chambers at Auschwitz and has questioned the number of Jews killed in the Holocaust

"Golden Dawn party leaders are openly anti-Semitic, racist, have denied the Holocaust, and its members have reportedly targeted dark-skinned individuals in Greece through various violent acts," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. 

"Its doctrine echoes Nazi principles by proposing that “only men and women of Greek descent and consciousness should have full political rights,” and the party recently held a blood drive to collect blood “only for Hellenes,” i.e. ethnic Greeks. 

Other members have expressed their abhorrent hatred though music with anti-Semitic and racist sentiments.

“The despicable ideology of Golden Dawn stands in the most stark contrast imaginable to the goals of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination,” said Foxman.

He added :  “Given the party’s rhetoric, it is an affront to concepts of equality and non-discrimination that one of its representatives now serves as a member on this Committee.”

In a letter to the Council of Europe committee chairperson Tina Acketoft, ADL urged the Committee to ensure that Golden Dawn’s representative is immediately, clearly and publicly rebuked for any statements that promote Golden Dawn’s neo-Nazi ideology, and that Ms. Zaroulia be prevented from assuming any leadership responsibilities.

“If a procedure is available to remove her from the committee, such action would demonstrate that commitment to the committee’s mandate starts at home,” Foxman wrote.