Greek court acquits activists who hung banner at Acropolis in China protest

Landmark decision described as huge victory for freedom of expression and right to peaceful protest in Europe'

Activists who were accused of attempting to pollute, damage and distort" the Acropolis after they hung a banner from the Athenian monument in protest against China's policies in Tibet have been acquitted by a Greek court.

In a landmark decision described as a victory for human rights defenders globally, an three-member tribunal threw out the charge on Thursday. A public prosecutor had only minutes earlier pressed for a guilty verdict.