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Some of the cartoons that renowned Greek cartoonist Arkas has created and posted on his official Facebook page have provoked a wave of reactions and threats from people who think he is fighting against the government.

The controversial cartoon depicts a man who says, "I have confidence in the government. They are people who have both their feet ... in the air."

The reactions and threats seem to have been so furious that the uploading of any publications on his official Facebook page has been suspended until further notice. The message reads, "At Arkas’ request the page has suspended uploading any posts. Administrator." In another post, the website administrator speaks of political barbarism. The controversial cartoons and comments have been deleted but the social networks are already full of responses to the attacks against the cartoonist’s page.

One user, namely Alexandros Charoulis, states that the administrator of the page had changed the cartoons and mainly the comments by Arkas in the controversial cartoons published quite some time ago.

In all cases, however, the page has over 348,000 followers and regularly uploads older or new cartoons by Arkas. It has a serious impact because of the large number of Greeks who follow the work of Arkas, and it is difficult to assume that he was unaware of the existence of the page.

Since yesterday, many social network users have expressed their sympathy and support for Arkas, asking, "Did the cartoons irritate those who believe in Mohammed?" Hundreds are talking about censorship but there are already two hashtags. #Je_suis_Arkas and #Free_Arkas.

In no time has Arkas become the major topic on the Greek Twitter.

Here are some of the typical reactions:

• The suspension of Arkas’ page because of the barbarity of the leftists is a defeat for democracy. That’s not right. We do not fulfil the desires of animals.

• Attacks with electronic bombs by defenders of freedom of speech/cartoons have closed Arkas’ page on fb! DEMOCRACY has won: - ((

• "Commissioners" known to us all attacked Arkas because of his anti-government cartoons, accusing him of obtaining them from "foreign centres".

• The SIRIZANEL regime (SYRIZA and Independent Greeks) is censoring Arkas. Who will be next?

• Should it be Arkas, lazybones? You fascists, when will we get rid of you?

• Arkas, German bedpan, you’ll not get away with that fascism. SYRIZA’s Internet group knows where you live ...

This is not the only case of harsh censorship by the government. A few days ago, the newspaper Kathimerini received a letter by State Minister Alekos Flambouraris in which he accused the newspaper of putting at risk journalism. In particular, he notes, "If Helen Vlachos were alive not only would similar pathetic "publications" that attack others on a personal, not on political, basis not have appeared on the pages of Kathimerini but the "journalists" writing them would not be able to even approach the newspaper." Minister Flambouraris called on the director of Kathimerini to take measures, because a democratic institution such as journalism was in danger in this way.
 
In response, Alexis Papachelas states that Helen Vlachos had a vivid and sardonic sense of humour that the politicians at the time sustained. "Humour and satire would hardly endanger democracy. The lack of tolerance towards them however would," concludes the director of the newspaper Kathimerini.

It is noted that Helen Vlachos was the legendary editor in chief of the newspaper Kathimerini, who suspended publishing the newspaper in 1967 in protest against the imposition of the military dictatorship in Greece. She was under house arrest by order of the junta but managed to escape to London where she lived until 1974, when the junta fell. Kathimerini resumed publication in September the same year.