Greek terrorist Savvas Xiros refuses security ankle monitor, house arrest option

One of the most famous terrorists in Greece who could continue serving life imprisonment conviction under house arrest wearing a security ankle monitor under a new law turned down the option with an open letter to the Press on Tuesday citing health to religious reasons.

Savvas Xiros, 52 years old, a key member of the November 17 terrorist group, who was convicted in 2003 for his role in dozens of killings, bomb attacks and robberies, was one of the potential beneficiaries of the law ratified by the Greek parliament in late April.

The law allows prisoners with severe disabilities to stay under house arrest, wearing a special monitoring bracelet.

Xiros was arrested in June 2002 seriously injured after placing a bomb that went off prematurely at the port of Piraeus.

His capture led to the dismantling of Greece's most active terrorist group since 1975. November 17 has been linked to the assassinations of 23 people in more than 100 attacks on Greek, U.S., British, Turkish and other targets.

The prospect of his release from prison to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest triggered the fierce reactions of families of his victims and the U.S. and British governments.

The Leftist government argued that the program could help resolve the overcrowding problems in Greek prisons and show the humanism of the Greek state, since there were no adequate facilities to cater for disabled inmates.

Xiros said on Tuesday that he refuses to wear the bracelet because a private company will gain financial benefit and because prisoners are turned into "guinea pigs" in a pilot program that will gradually expand to the entire society under an Orwellian nightmare.

The convicted terrorist also claimed that the ankle monitor will be an obstacle in undergoing medical tests such as MRIs.

Finally Xiros, son of a Greek Orthodox priest, has cited his religious belief for his refusal. Pointing to the Book of Revelation he said that the device was a means to block people who are electronically monitored from entering Paradise. Endit