Islam: It’s all Greek to us
February 28, 2009
It’s a great pleasure to announce that our team has produced our first professional (hard copy) brochure that is at the printers as we speak. This is for you to read and distribute either online through forums, blogs, email, websites or offline by passing it out to friends and family.
View online brochure in pdf: English Ελληνικά
Obtain free copies of the brochure in the mail:
Contact marketing@greeksrethink.com.
Muslim Association of Greece: medical supplies to Gaza
February 26, 2009
Η Γάζα άντεξε και σηκώνεται ξανά όρθια
Του ΣΩΤΗΡΗ ΚΑΡΑΛΗ*
Σταθήκαμε μάλλον τυχεροί που κατορθώσαμε να μπούμε στη Λωρίδα της Γάζας από το μεθοριακό πέρασμα της Ράφας στην Αίγυπτο σε λιγότερο από τρεις ώρες από την άφιξή μας εκεί.
Το απόγευμα της Τετάρτης 21 Ιανουαρίου που περάσαμε στην παλαιστινιακή Ράφα, αφήσαμε πίσω μας ανθρώπους που παλεύανε μέρες για την είσοδό τους. Η αποστολή μας, οργανωμένη από τη Συμμαχία Σταματήστε τον Πόλεμο, τον Ελληνοπαλαιστινιακό Σύνδεσμο Φιλίας και την Ενωση Ελλήνων Μουσουλμάνων, είχε σκοπό να συνοδέψει δύο φορτηγά με ιατροφαρμακευτικό υλικό και να καταγράψει την κατάσταση στη Λωρίδα μια ημέρα μετά τις μονομερείς εκεχειρίες και την απόσυρση των ισραηλινών στρατευμάτων.
Φτάσαμε στην πόλη της Γάζας το βράδυ, με συνοδεία ασθενοφόρου (προνόμιο που μας εξασφάλισε ο Παλαιστίνιος συνταξιδιώτης μας) και καταλύσαμε περιμένοντας να ξημερώσει. Την επόμενη ημέρα, βγαίνοντας στον δρόμο, αντικρίσαμε με έκπληξη μια πολιτεία που έδειχνε να συνέρχεται: τα παιδιά έπαιζαν βόλους στον δρόμο, τα μαγαζιά είχαν ανοίξει και οι πλατείες ήταν σημαιοστολισμένες με τις πράσινες σημαίες της Χαμάς και τις κόκκινες σημαίες του Λαϊκού Μετώπου. Οι αστυνομικοί ήταν στις θέσεις τους και η αγορά έσφυζε από ζωή. Οσο για τα βομβαρδισμένα κτίρια, ήδη τα πρώτα συνεργεία βρίσκονταν εκεί προσπαθώντας με τα λίγα μέσα που διέθεταν να περιμαζέψουν την κατάσταση.
(English summary of the full article)
Gaza rose up and stood again: Muslim Association of Greece helps take medical supplies to Gaza
On January 21, 2008 a team organized by the Stop the War Coalition, the Greek-Palestinian Friendship League and the Muslim Association of Greece, had to accompany two trucks with medical supplies and take stock of the situation in Gaza one day after the unilateral truce and the withdrawal of Israeli troops.
As noted, Gaza has received merciless attacks: bombed schools, food stores UNWRA, the Parliament, the Islamic University, all police stations, mosques, homes of ordinary people, but especially members of Hamas houses, town halls and public services, hospitals, and crafts, such as machining and garages.
The last day we spent in Rafah. After visiting the various points hit, we were in a large main road when the schools were being dismissed. It was the first day of school after the bombing. We took out our camera and started taping the sea. Dozens of children came around us. We asked a little girl what she wants to be when she grows up. She replied that she wants to become a teacher. We asked another. He replied that he wants to help the resistance to liberate Palestine.
What we can the barbaric weapons against nine hundred thousand children and adolescents of Gaza do, we thought? And we only reply: Nothing, time is on their side …
Τηλεμαραθώνιος για ένα νοσοκομείο στη Γάζα; Telethon in Greece for a Hospital in Gaza
February 23, 2009
(English translation below)
Source:
Η ΕΡΤ σε συνεργασία με 11 φορείς (ΓΣΕΕ, ΑΔΕΔΥ, UNICEF, Υπερνομαρχία Αθηνών-Πειραιώς, ΕΝΑΕ, ΚΕΔΚΕ, ΓΕΣΕΒΕ, Δικηγορικό Σύλλογο Αθήνας, Τεχνικό Επιμε-λητήριο Ελλάδας, Ιατρικό Σύλλογο Αθήνας και Φαρμακευτικό Σύλλογο Αθήνας) διοργάνωσε από τις 5 το απόγευμα ως τα μεσάνυχτα Τηλεμαραθώνιο για την έμπρακτη βοήθεια και αλληλεγγύη στο δοκιμαζόμενο Παλαιστινιακό Λαό της Λωρίδας της Γάζας. Συγκεντρώθηκαν περίπου 1.200.000 ευρώ από τους τηλεθεατές από την Ελλάδα και όλον τον κόσμο που παρακολούθησαν τον Τηλεμαραθώνιο από την ΕΤ1 και την ERTworld.
Οι μεγάλες απώλειες σε ανθρώπινες ζωές, οι τεράστιες καταστροφές σε σπίτια, νοσοκομεία και άλλα κτήρια στην περιοχή της Γάζας, καθώς και οι αυξημένες ανάγκες των κατοίκων σε είδη πρώτης ανάγκης, οδήγησαν στην απόφαση να διοργανωθεί ο Τηλεμαραθώνιος Αγάπης.
Ο Τηλεμαραθώνιος πραγματοποιήθηκε σε δύο στούντιο της ΕΡΤ, το Δ και το Γ.
Telethon for a Hospital in Gaza
ERT, in cooperation with 11 bodies (GSEE, ADEDY, UNICEF, Athens-Piraeus Supra-prefecture, ENAE, KEDKE, GESEVE, Athens Bar Association, Technical Chamber of Greece, Athens Medical Centre and Athens Pharmaceutical Association) is staging a telethon on Monday, 23, February for aid and solidarity to the suffering Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. The telethon will be broadcast from ET1 and ERT world as of 17:00 to Monday midnight.
The big losses in human lives, the immense destructions in houses, hospitals and other buildings in Gaza, as well as the people’s needs for primary commodities led to the decision to stage a Love Telethon.
The Telethon will take place in ERT Studios D and C.
Striking the perfect balance between Athens and Sparta
February 21, 2009
The way the Noble Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) brought up the Islamic Ummah.
When one expects the very first word to be revealed to a prophet would be “Kneel!”, “Bow!”, “Prostrate!” or “Hark!”, it is surprising to learn that the first word revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was “Read!”.
It is all the more surprising when you know that Prophet Muhammad was an illiterate person who belonged to a mostly illiterate nation!
The following are the very first ayas (verses) that the Prophet had received:
“Read in the name of thy Lord Who created; Created man from a clot; Read, and your Lord is the Most Bounteous; Who has taught (the writing) by the pen; He taught man that which he knew not.” (Holy Qur’an, 96: 1-5)
The Holy Qur’an revolutionized a nation of illiterate, hostile warring tribes by inviting them to reflect, think and re-think about everything in life, especially the signs of God’s oneness, greatness and blessings.
In fact, Edward De Bono* once said: “Islam is more about thinking than any other religion”. He also testified that “there are 130 verses in Koran specifically about thinking”.
Little wonder, it only took a few decades to transform a people with hardly any civilization worth mentioning into the patrons of science and enlightenment for the next one thousands years!
On the other hand, Islam brought up a nation of disciplined fearless warriors who would sacrifice everything they had to please their Lord.
Allah (swt) states in the Noble Qur’an: “Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in rows (ranks), as if they were a solid structure.” (61:4)
Muslims had a strong belief in the afterlife and knew that dying on the battlefield was not just an honour, but also a direct path to paradise.
It was a win-win deal – and still is for people who believe!
The very compulsary five daily prayers that should ideally be performed in a mosque or in congregation not only taught Muslims discipline, but also strengthened their sense of brotherhood and unity.
With their high spirit and strong faith they were able to defeat armies many times greater and better equipped than theirs (See the table below).
Khaled Ibn Al-Waleed was a Muslim commander who is considered to be one of the most successful military commanders of all time. He never ever lost a battle! But he was by no means the only great Muslim commander. There were many others, as you’ll see later.
Strength – be it in body, mind or spirit – was a highly appreciated quality in a Muslim and the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is known for having said: “A strong believer is better and dearer to Allah than a weak believer; and there is good in both”.
Omar (may Allah be pleased with him) also once said: “Teach your children swimming, archery, and horse-riding”.
Furthermore, Islam discouraged Muslims from living an extravagnt lifestyle and was categorically against excess, especially when it came to material matters.
Austerity was encouraged; and, in fact, one of the Prophet’s (pbuh) well-known sayings is: “Toughen yourselves, for life’s blessings do not last for ever”.
Finally, the Prophet (pbuh) predicted that there would come a day when Muslims will be so large in numbers yet so weak that their enemies would invite one another to assault them. The reason? Muslims would have become fond of life and fearful of death.
These dark days have already been around for some time. But, insha’Allah, with sincere efforts to revert to our deen, the dawn is not too far away!
Just some of the historical battles in which the Muslims defeated their enemies despite being greatly outnumbered.
| Battle | Year | Muslim Commander | Number of Muslim forces | Number of their enemy forces |
| Badr | 2 Hijri / 624 A.D. | Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) | 313 | 1,000 |
| “That Assalasel” | 12 Hijri | Khalid Ibn Al-Walid | 18,000 | 80,00 |
| Al-Yarmuk | 15 Hijri / 636 A.D. | Khalid Ibn Al-Walid | 24,000-40,000 | 100,000-400,000 |
| Al-Qadisiyyah | 15 Hijri / 636 A.D. | Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas | 36,000 | 60,000-100,000 |
| Nahawand | 21 Hijri / 642 A.D. | An-Nu’man Ibn Al-Muqarren | 30,00 | 150,000 |
| Az-Zallaqa | 1086 A.D. | Yusuf Ibn Tashfin | 30,000 | More than 60,000 |
*Edward de Bono (born May 19, 1933, in Malta) is a Maltese physician, author, inventor, and consultant. He is best known as the originator of the term “lateral thinking” (structured creativity) and the leading proponent of the deliberate teaching of thinking in schools.
Greece: “More and strenuous efforts are needed to protect minority rights” says Commissioner Hammarberg
February 19, 2009
Source: Council of Europe
Strasbourg, 19.02.2009 – “Effective protection of minority rights is a fundamental pillar of pluralist societies. Greece still needs to make more and strenuous efforts to ensure that these rights are fully respected and protected”. With these words Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, published today a report on human rights of minorities in Greece, focusing on issues relating to the right to freedom of association, statelessness and application of the Sharia Law.
While commending certain efforts made by the authorities in particular in the field of minority education in Thrace, the Commissioner remains deeply worried about the persistent denial of recognition of minorities other than the tripartite ‘Muslim’ one in western Thrace. The Commissioner also expresses his serious concerns by the over-restrictive practice of Greek courts that has led to non-registration of certain minority associations. “The authorities should urgently make possible the effective enjoyment by minority members of their right to freedom of association” said Thomas Hammarberg. “A consultative mechanism should also be created to ensure a continuous dialogue at all levels with minority groups, in accordance with the Council of Europe standards.”
The Commissioner also urges the authorities to complete promptly their efforts aimed at restoring the Greek nationality of those minority members who were deprived of it unlawfully by virtue of the former nationality code. “Particular care should be provided to those remained in Greece and who have limited financial resources to cover welfare and medical services” said the Commissioner. “As for the denationalised persons who are abroad, the authorities should consider the possibility of providing them, or their descendants, with satisfaction.”
Furthermore, Commissioner Hammarberg expresses serious concerns about the application of the Sharia Law concerning family and inheritance matters to Muslim Greek citizens in Thrace, by Muftis appointed by the Greek state. “Given the issues of incompatibility of this practice with European and international human rights standards, it is necessary to overhaul this practice and strengthen the substantive review and control by domestic courts of the Muftis’ judicial decisions.”
Finally, the Commissioner calls upon the Greek authorities to proceed promptly to the ratification of or accession to certain major Council of Europe treaties, such as the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the European Convention on Nationality and the Fourth Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights.
The report is based on the Commissioner’s visit to Greece on 8-10 December 2008. It is available, together with the Greek authorities’ comments, on the Commissioner’s website.
Media contact in the Commissioner’s Office: Stefano Montanari, +33 6 61 14 70 37; stefano.montanari@coe.int
Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights
Communication Unit
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 35 38
Fax:+33 (0)3 90 21 50 53
www.commissioner.coe.int
press.commissioner@coe.int
The #1 secret to enjoying life to the fullest
February 15, 2009
Being a Christian for so long, you quickly realize how flimsy your life can be. I mean, after believing that Jesus has died for your salvation, who really needs to do any good after that?
As former Christians, we always believed that it was a nice gesture to give someone a ride, take care of the poor, give our seat to the elderly, buy a gift for our moms, but there’s nothing that really pushed us to do it.
And on the flip side, if we committed some sins or did bad things, really, so what if at the end of the day, we are already saved?
1 Million Flimsy People
This is what I mean by flimsy. And you put 1 million flimsy people together in a society and what do you have? Major societal problems.
My favourite saying back in the day was ‘go with the flow’. If no one knew why we were here and why we die, well, at least we might as well enjoy life to the fullest. At the end of the day, really, who cares if we do something good or bad, useful, or even useless?
Live a life of meaning
Well, in Islam, it’s completely opposite.
Everything we do has benefit to it. Worship is not limited to prayer on Sundays or Fridays. Our scripture is not limited to ancient tales that have no meaning in our present life.
Everything is relevant, with the times and dynamic in Islam and the puzzle pieces all fit perfectly to harmonize our mind, body and soul, giving us internal peace.
We enjoy life to the fullest through ‘ibadah’, sometimes translated as worship but actually means anything that Allah loves and is pleased with, whether it’s a statement of the tongue or an action, outwardly or inwardly.
So if I give someone a ride, take care of the poor, give my seat to the elderly, or buy a gift for my mom, I’m doing it first and foremost to seek the pleasure of Allah, and by doing that I not only feel full of life, but I feel useful in society and I hope that this deed will be weighed in on the Day of Judgement for my salvation.
The Model society
To become an ideal Muslim is to become the model citizen in society. Now, put 1 million ideal Muslims together in a society and what do you have? Matchless civilization.
Would you like your life to have meaning? Would you like to feel useful in society?
Mosque and cemetery: too much to ask?
February 13, 2009
This an article by our brother and head of the Muslim Association of Greece, Naim El-Ghandour, published with IslamOnline.net.
In an ancient region called Thrace, North East of Greece, a Muslim community of about 120, 000 Muslims is based. Historically, the population of this city was exempted from applying the provisions of the Treaty of Lausanne VI, 1923; a treaty which aimed at applying an obligatory exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey following World War I. This Muslim minority is composed of three ethnic groups, in which the element of homogeneity is absent. More specifically, 50 percent of Thrace’s Muslims are of Turkish origin, 35 percent are Pomaks [1], and 15 percent are Roma people [2]. Each of the aforementioned groups has its own language and traditions. They have their own muftis, imams, mosques, cemeteries, schools, etc. But they are all united, mainly, in their strong connections with Turkey, such as joining Turkish universities, migrating into Turkey for work, etc.
Besides the first Turkish Muslim group there is another group of Muslims in Greece which includes immigrants who had settled in Greece during the last 40 years coming mainly form Arab countries and partly from other Islamic ones. These Muslims are doing all kinds of jobs all over this European country, not only as low-profession workers who are estimated at 90 percent of the total immigrant percentage. Some of these immigrants have better opportunities and work in high-professions, so there are doctors, scientists, professors, entrepreneurs, businessmen, and importers.
The last smallest group of Muslims consists of the converted Greek Muslims who embraced Islam after studying it, or after getting married to Muslims whereby they had the chance to meet Muslims and interact with them. Those were the three Muslim groups living in Greece with different characteristics and cultures and are estimated at 830,000.
Muslim Associations in Greece
The Association of Muslims in Greece (AMG) was established in 2003. It is the organization that brings together all Muslims from all over Greece. It is located in Athens, where about 700.000 Muslims live. The Association of Muslims in Greece exerts efforts to defend the Muslims’ rights in several fields, like having an official mosque and a Muslim graveyard, etc. Many Muslim citizens contribute to the AMG’s efforts including permanent residents who pay taxes to the Hellenic State, the legal immigrants, the university students, and also the political refugees. Even Sunnis and Shiite are united under the umbrella of the AMG while having the same demands for an official Hellenic Mosque and a common Muslim cemetery.
The History of Greek Mosques
Surprisingly, there is no official mosque in Greece up to the moment. However, there are some unofficial mosques in Greece which totally depend on the private efforts of the Muslims there. The first mosque in Athens was built in 1985 by the Sudanese Dr. Munir Abdelrasul in Goudi, a neighborhood of Athens; the second in 1989 by myself, Naim El-Ghandour, at Piraeus district; the third in 1989 by the Egyptian Mohiy Eldin in the center of Athens; the fourth in 1993 by the Palestinian Mazen Rassas at Neos Kosmos in Athens. Many mosques were established then and Greece now has 67 Islamic places for worship in Athens only. These mosques attract all Muslims from both Arab and non-Arab backgrounds, like the Persians, Greeks, Albanians, Sub-Saharan Africans, and European Muslims. The Greek State did not raise any objection against the private efforts of Muslims in building mosques as there is no other place for them to practice their religion.
Financing Mosques in Greece
The fundraisers of the places for worship are the owners and Muslims who spend a lot of money to cover the rent and other expenses. At Friday prayers, Muslims usually give alms to the mosque. In fact, sometimes the charity money is enough to cover the mosques’ expenses and sometimes it is not. All mosques in Athens are self-funded except for only one mosque which is funded from abroad since it belongs to the Federation of Islamic Organization in Europe (FIOE).
Efforts With the Governments
Few years ago, the Association of Muslims in Greece had many attempts to approach the government for the official mosque and the cemetery. Muslims communicated with the Ministry of Education and Religions and conducted several meetings regarding the needs of Muslims in Athens. Greek Muslims were mainly concerned with the following issues: how would a mosque in Athens operate harmoniously with all different nationalities and languages, and the demands of a mosque. Finally, the state greatly appreciated our proposal and we had a very satisfactory law that describes the Athens Mosque as a mosque built by the Greek state in cooperation with Greeks and EU funds. The government also stated that the mosque’s imam should be certified by an authorized university, like Al Azhar, to be considered officially as a civil servant with a two-year contract.
A Far-Fetched Dream
Unfortunately, after all these efforts and achievements, the Minister of Education and Religions was deposed in a ministerial change. So the whole project was delayed due to lack of information, another ministerial change, and a national need for the money dedicated to the mosque. Muslims’ claims are well known to the public, since they are always hosted in many TV and radio programs and ncluded in the coverage of all online and printed newspapers.
Muslims’ Gathering Events
Feast Prayer at Olympic Stadium
Twice a year on both Islamic `Eids, members of the Arab Muslim community gather in the Olympic stadium of Athens (OAKA) where they perform the `Eid prayers together, often headed by a famous imam from abroad. Greek Muslims of Pakistani origin also go to the SEF Stadium, another big Greek Stadium, due to the different languages, but once the Hellenic mosque is ready, Muslims from different backgrounds agree to meet there no matter which language will the majority adopt.
A Cemetery as Well
Muslims have been trying to achieve this goal since 2005. At that time, the former Archbishop Christodoulou announced that the Church of Greece donated a piece of land for Muslims to build their own cemetery on. The Association of Muslims in Greece got in contact with the Church, which is connected to the government, to proceed with this project. Many months followed, but the archbishop passed away, a new one was elected, and Muslims had to send new letters. The matter was no longer in the hands of the church but in the state’s. Many meetings were held where Muslims reassured their desire to have the cemetery very soon. When they felt that there were no steps taken, they addressed the Minister of Internal Affairs Mr. Prokopis Pavlopoulos and asked to meet him as Muslims consider this a matter of human dignity.
And Muslims’ efforts still go on…
Are you a Greek Muslim or a Muslim living there? What do you think of the Muslim status in Greece? How do you think Muslims can integrate into the Greek society while maintaining their Islamic identity?
——————————————————————————–
[1] An indigenous population that initially lost its native tongue and subsequently espoused Islam during the Ottoman occupation. They are also said to be a Bulgarian-speaking Muslim population group native to some parts of Bulgaria, specifically southern Bulgaria, and the adjacent parts of Greece and Turkey.
[2] An ethnic group with origins in South Asia who are widely dispersed with their largest concentrated populations in Europe.
Sources:
Hellenic Resources Network: Miscellaneous Greek News Sources. The Muslim Minority of Greek Thrace. April 1996.
Welcome our latest News Manager
February 11, 2009
Please give a warm welcome to our latest addition to our team, our News Manager, Hayrullah Mehmeti.
Br. Hayrullah is from Northwestern Greece and now lives in the U.S. He works to unite Muslims in Greece and in Greek society by building bridges. His speciality lies in politics and history and he is our newest author for our news blog. He will be compiling a team of more authors in the future to bring you top quality articles to our news blog insha Allah.
If you would like to join the news team or contact Br. Hayrullah, please email him at news@greeksrethink.com.
Please give a warm welcome to Br. Hayrullah.
Don’t you just hate Muslims? So did I.
February 6, 2009
Surrender. That’s precisely how to describe it. So many converts to Islam have said the same thing. It’s not that I wanted to become Muslim. I hated Islam. I was running away from it. But it was this persistent nagging of my soul that kept dragging me back. While my brain was fleeing far away, my heart was magnetized to Islam and the intense need to get answers to life.
I couldn’t understand how someone could betray their family, their way of life, their “Greekness” and become a traitor to our civilised culture.
I barely knew anything about Islam but I did know that whoever would sell their soul for some backward religion is wacko. When I met Muslims in my university program, I was befuddled. You can imagine the hot debates we had – trinity, salvation, women, violence and on and on.
When I didn’t know the answer, my arrogance and defensiveness would kick in. In retrospect, I think my debater could call my bluff, but respectfully didn’t. So, what did I do? The only sensible thing. Go back to the church. And I did. I started to open up my dusty Bible that I received after graduating from Sunday school. The inscription reads,
“Holy Bible presented to …. May this be an inspiration throughout your entire life. God bless you.”
Signed, my teacher
Little does my teacher know her supplication was answered. The Bible was the first step that led me to Islam. I became obsessed with Christianity. Of course, I was the only young person at church during the week and my mom was really proud of me. But something happened. Things just didn’t make sense. There was a clear contradiction between what my Muslim classmates were telling me and what I was studying. And I needed to prove them wrong. So, when no one was looking, I would sneak into the library to grab any information I could about Islam to attack them with it (this was pre-Google days people!). I even met with my priest to see if he could clear up my confusion, but no success there.
After months of studying secretly and debate after debate, continuously searching for loop-holes so I can dismiss this weird religion and get my sanity back, inside me, I knew I was losing, even though I would never admit it, even to myself. I was fighting a fight that couldn’t be won but I would die trying.
Until one day, I just knew there was no more. And the only thing left for me to do was surrender to the truth. Islam.
No wonder Islam means surrender.
Με επιστολές ζητούν τζαμί και νεκροταφείο; Muslims in Athens upset at mosque delays
February 4, 2009
Source: Enet.gr
(English article below)
Το τζαμί και το μουσουλμανικό νεκροταφείο είναι δύο θέματα που απασχολούν μεγάλο μέρος του πληθυσμού της Αθήνας και όχι μόνο, καθώς εκατοντάδες χιλιάδες κάτοικοι του λεκανοπεδίου είναι μουσουλμάνοι. Ωστόσο, στην πράξη και τα δύο έχουν παγώσει. Οι μουσουλμάνοι της Αθήνας με επιστολές προς τους υπουργούς Παιδείας και Θρησκευμάτων Αρη Σπηλιωτόπουλο και Εσωτερικών Προκόπη Παυλόπουλο τα φέρνουν και πάλι στην επικαιρότητα σε μια προσπάθεια να προκαλέσουν την ευαισθητοποίησή τους. Οι δύο επιστολές εστάλησαν στις 27 Ιανουαρίου.
Η Μουσουλμανική Ενωση Ελλάδος χαρακτηρίζει και τα δύο θέματα μείζονος σημασίας και περιγράφει τους κινδύνους που προκαλεί η στάση της κυβέρνησης. Ειδικότερα για το θέμα του τζαμιού, που σύμφωνα με την τελευταία απόφαση προβλέπεται ν’ ανεγερθεί στην περιοχή του Ελαιώνα, εξηγούν μία από τις σοβαρές παραμέτρους του προβλήματος: «Η αθρόα και ανεξέλεγκτη εισροή μεταναστών από τα μουσουλμανικά κράτη πολλαπλασιάζουν τον μουσουλμανικό πληθυσμό μεταφέροντας μαζί τους τις όποιες ιδέες και διδαχές που δεν έχουν τη βάση ενός επίσημου φορέα. Ετσι, καθώς δεν υπάρχει επίσημο τέμενος στην Αθήνα, ο καθείς μπορεί να δημιουργήσει έναν άτυπο χώρο προσευχής όπως κάναμε όλοι μας στο παρελθόν, με τη διαφορά ότι δεν έχουν ως κέντρο αναφοράς την αρμονική συνύπαρξη των ανθρώπων και το καλό της Ελλάδας, αλλά προωθούν τις δικές τους βλέψεις για ίδιο όφελος».
Σ’ ό,τι αφορά το θέμα του μουσουλμανικού νεκροταφείου, για το οποίο η Εκκλησία της Ελλάδος επί αρχιεπισκοπίας Χριστοδούλου έχει παραχωρήσει έκταση στο Σχιστό, γράφουν προς τον υπουργό Εσωτερικών ότι ενώ όλα τα αρμόδια στελέχη της κυβέρνησης τους διαβεβαιώνουν ότι το θέμα έχει διευθετηθεί, δεν έχει γίνει απολύτως τίποτα. Και αφού τονίζουν ότι πρόκειται για μείζονος σημασίας θέμα, κυρίως για την αρμονική συνύπαρξη όλων των ανθρώπων που ζουν σε μια πολυπολιτισμική κοινωνία, προειδοποιώντας επί της ουσίας για όσα μπορεί να ακολουθήσουν, προσθέτουν: «Οι μουσουλμάνοι της Αθήνας δικαίως βιώνουν το αίσθημα της ματαίωσης και της απόρριψης καθώς δεν έχουν τη δυνατότητα να προσεύχονται, να παντρεύονται, να κηδεύονται αξιοπρεπώς».
Source: The Earth Times
Muslims living in Athens voice displeasure over mosque delay
Muslims living in Athens voiced their displeasure Monday over a delay in the construction of a mosque for tens of thousands of Muslims who have been using abandoned factories and converted coffee shops as makeshift prayer houses for years. The president of the Muslim Union of Greece said the construction of a state-funded mosque and cemetery in Elaionas near the centre of Athens has been faced with countless delays.
In 2007 the Greek government unveiled a bill for the construction of the mosque, saying it would be built on a large plot of land owned by the Greek Navy.
According to the bill, the new Athens mosque will be run by a non- profit organisation staffed by Greek state officials and members of the capital’s Muslim communities. The head imam will be appointed by a government-backed committee and be paid by the ministry.
A previous proposal to build a mosque near Athens’ International Airport ahead of the 2004 Olympics was blocked following objections by residents and opposition from the Greek Orthodox Church, which disagreed with the location and plans for funding from Saudi Arabia.
“There are apprxomately 150 illegal mosques operating across the Greek capital and this cannot continue,” said Naim Elgantur, President of the Muslim Union of Greece.
“The authorities have told us to send them certain documents which we have sent them twice, and which they claim to have lost.”
Athens is the only European capital which does not have a proper mosque or cemetery to serve its more than 300,000 Muslim residents, mainly from various parts of northern Africa and Pakistan.
At present, the only operating mosques in Greece are in the northeastern region of Thrace, home to some 100,000 Muslims.
The largest makeshift mosque currently exists in the Athens district of Moschato. The mosque, based inside a disused factory measuring 800 square meters, has reportedly been funded by a Saudi Arabian donor.
