A member of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party will represent Greece on the Council of Europe’s Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination.

The appointment of Eleni Zaroulia, the wife of Golden Dawn’s party chairman, has been condemned by US anti-racism watchdog, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

Black T-shirted vigilantes associated with the Golden Dawn party, known for its xenophobic and racist rhetoric, have attacked immigrants and ethnic minorities living in Greece.

Abraham Foxman, director of the ADL, said: “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.”

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

It is an affront to concepts of equality and non-discrimination that one of its representatives now serves as a member on this committee.”