Greece’s First State-Sponsored Mosque May Open in September

Date:

ATHENS (AP) — Greece’s education and religion minister says the country’s long-delayed first state-sponsored mosque is likely to begin operating in September, about three years after its construction was approved by parliament.

Kostas Gavroglou spoke on Friday during a visit to the nearly complete mosque on the outskirts of Athens’ city centre, accompanied by representatives of the Mus­lim community. Its construction has been controversial, with some opposing a mosque in the Greek capital.

“It is particularly good that soon there will be the first prayer from the imam of the Athens mosque. We hope this will happen in September at the latest,” Gavroglou said.

The mosque, approved by lawmakers in August 2016 and built in a mainly industrial area of the capital, will provide an official place of worship for the country’s Muslim immigrant community and for visitors. Tens of thousands of Muslim migrants live in the greater Athens area, and have been using informal prayer rooms in basements and disused stores.

theclarionindia
theclarionindiahttps://clarionindia.net
Clarion India - News, Views and Insights about Indian Muslims, Dalits, Minorities, Women and Other Marginalised and Dispossessed Communities.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Share post:

Subscribe

spot_imgspot_img

Popular

More like this
Related

Protests at NIT, Srinagar against Inflammatory Post by Non-local Student on Islam

SRINAGAR - Protests were held on Tuesday by local...

Decide on Plea to Hold Muslim Mahapanchayat at Ramlila Maidan by Nov 29: HC to Delhi Police

NEW DELHI - The Delhi High Court on Tuesday...

Israeli Journalist Gideon Levy: Occupation Won’t End until Israel Pays the Price

 'Peace will not come from Israeli society. Israelis will...

Don’t Want Muslim Votes, They Are My Enemies: T Raja Singh

The firebrand Hindutva leader was suspended from the BJP...