In October, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) condemned Greece for the treatment of an LGBTI refugee from Iran, who had been detained pending deportation in 2013. The Court ruled that Greece’s actions violated Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which prohibits inhuman or degrading treatment. The ECtHR also noted that the refugee had no practical or effective legal remedy at the time to challenge the detention or seek restoration of his rights. The lawyer representing the refugee highlighted the prolonged delay in the case and emphasised the importance of linking the ECHR decision to the official files of the authorities responsible, so that accountability could be reflected in personnel evaluations or promotions where applicable.

In July, Greek authorities filed a criminal case against a 45-year-old man from Hanioti for an online post inciting discrimination against immigrants and the LGBTI community. The Chania Crime Prosecution and  Investigation  Sub-Directorate,  according to the Hellenic Police, opened the case under legislation addressing certain forms of racism and xenophobia. The preliminary investigation found that the individual’s post encouraged discriminatory behavior toward non-EU citizens and LGBTI people. The case file was to be forwarded to the Prosecutor of the Minor Offences Court of Chania. By the end of 2025, there has been no publicly reported update on whether the case has progressed to charges or court proceedings.

In July, the Mixed Jury Court of Appeal of Crete convicted three French tourists for a 2017 attack on a same-sex couple, recognising a homophobic motive and applying enhanced sentencing under Greek law. The perpetrators had approached the couple under a pretext and then assaulted them, repeatedly striking one victim in the head. The attack ceased when a passerby intervened, causing the attackers to flee. Although they left for France the next day, authorities identified them and proceeded with the case. The Court of Appeal sentenced the three attackers to seven and eight years in prison, invoking Article 82A of the Criminal Code, which increases penalties for crimes motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation. This ruling represents the first final conviction in Crete explicitly recognising a homophobic motive and is among the first in Greece.

In July, a 24-year-old man was attacked in Anthoupolis as he exited the metro by a group of around five people who physically attacked him and verbally abused him with homophobic slurs. One of the attackers recorded the assault on video. The attackers eventually left, leaving the victim on the street until a neighbor intervened to help him.

In September, a male couple was subjected to a homophobic attack in central Athens after holding hands and sharing a kiss. A passerby aggressively approached them, threw a cup of coffee at them, and shouted insults. The couple filed a complaint with the Racist Violence Department. There has been no publicly reported information by the end of 2025 on the outcome of the investigation or any charges in the case.

In April, Greece’s Council of State overturned a 2022 Health Ministry decision that had lifted a ban on blood donations by gay men, effectively reinstating the exclusion pending further scientific evaluation. The court ruled that the policy change bypassed expert recommendations and lacked supporting scientific studies. The ruling came after petitions from organisations representing people with thalassemia, who argued that the ministry had failed to prioritise public health and proper blood safety protocols. The Health Ministry is now required to re-evaluate the policy to ensure it aligns with both scientific standards and constitutional protections.

In April, the Greek government announced a reform restricting access to surrogacy for same-sex male couples and single men. Under the new rules, only women, whether single or in a relationship, who are medically unable to carry a child will be eligible. Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis framed the measure, part of a broader Civil Code revision, as an effort to clarify eligibility criteria.

In late May, Greece’s Council of State ruled that civil marriage between same-sex couples, as stipulated by a 2024 law, is constitutional. The Court confirmed that allowing marriage between persons of the same sex, as well as the right for such couples to adopt jointly or for one spouse to adopt the other’s child, does not violate constitutional provisions on the protection of marriage, family, motherhood, childhood, or equality. The case was examined following a request for annulment filed by three religious associations seeking to overturn the regulation that records spouses’ and parents’ details in civil registry documents.

In October, a report by ANT1, a major national television broadcaster, highlighted a case of systemic invisibility faced by a trans woman in Greece’s public health system. Despite having undergone bottom surgery, the woman still has a prostate for medical reasons. When attempting to book a prostate examination through IDIKA, the electronic system for appointments and health procedures in public hospitals, she was repeatedly blocked, effectively denying her access to necessary care. The issue arises because IDIKA recognises her as a woman in all official records, creating a mismatch between her medical needs and the bureaucratic system. Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis acknowledged the problem, describing it as a “technical issue with IDIKA” and stated that he would investigate the matter.

In April, the secretariat of the University of West Attica refused to issue a new degree to a trans graduate whose civil registration documents had been legally updated to reflect their gender identity. The refusal cited a decision of the Council of State, but under article 4 and article 6(1) of Law 4491/2017 on legal gender recognition public authorities are explicitly obligated to update all official records and issue new documents reflecting a person’s corrected gender and name.

In July, 26-year-old Electra Rome Dohtsi was elected president of Volt Greece, becoming the country’s first openly trans political party leader.