Athens: Greeks unite for anti-war protest
March 24, 2009 by Anna
A large antiwar demonstration was held on Saturday March 21st at Syntagma square in Athens to protest against 10 years from the NATO bombing of Serbia, eight years bombing and occupation of Afghanistan, six years from the war in Iraq, the 60 years of NATO, as well as the Gaza attacks.
The demonstration was organized by the Stop The War Coalition of Greece and participants students organizations, Hellenic-Palestinian Friendship, the Pakistani Community, the Afghani community and the Muslim Association of Greece.
A music concert was about to start by the orchestra Mikis Theodorakis and various artists with conscience and strong anti-war feelings, but the heavy rain that started minutes before did no allow this.
The demonstration started with the speeches from the organizations that were participating: Yannis Sifakakis from the Stop the War Coalition, Hala Alary from the Hellenic-Palestinian Friendship, representatives of the students and the workers, and Anna Stamou from the Muslim Association of Greece.
People raised their voices to terminate the military occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan for all troops to leave immediately, especially the Greek forces to leave from Afghanistan, south Lebanon, Somalia, and solve this tragic situation in Gaza to free the Palestinians.
Also the 60 years of NATO were severely criticized since they have offered nothing peaceful to humanity so far and 60 years are enough. The demonstrators walked to the U.S.A. embassy under pouring rain.
Earlier on Tuesday, a press conference was given by the Stop The War Coalition of Greece, the Greek Syndicates, the Hellenic-Palestinian Friendship, and the Muslim Association of Greece in front of the French embassy regarding the 60 years of NATO that will be celebrated in Strasbourg in a few days, and massive anti-war movements will gather to protest.
The media covered this press conference with great interest.
Yes, I was at this demonstration.
There were a few of us who demonstrated against the turkish occupation of Cyprus. In fact, that should have been the focus for everybody. Gaza and Afganistan are also important, but after Cyprus.
Could the organisers of tghis site promote this issue? That would make you very popular in Greece.
FREE CYPRUS FROM TURKISH TROOPS- UNITED CYPRUS AGAIN
LEFTERIA STHN KYPRO- EKSO OI TOURKOI-
MUSLIM ASSOCIATION OF GREECE
It is easy. You can visit the site of the organizers and put your claim there for the next demonstration: http://www.stop-the-war.gr
Ali , ur opening a can of worms…..
Yianni kai gw exw to kipriako polu konta stin kardia mou, megalosa kai ezisa stin kipro, kai san mousoulmana ellinida me endiaferi kai mena poli to kipriako. Inshallah euxomai na mboresoume na kanoume diadilosi mia mera dipla dipla,
na se kala
mariam
Yianni, file mu, hello
My name is Hayrullah and am happy to meet and respond to you for the first time. Now,
I do not think that MAG’s main concern is FAME. I think it is to portray Islam the way it should be, to correct misunderstandings about Islam and Muslims that non-Muslims in Greece (and elsewhere) have and to provide Islam as an alternative to cure the ills that plague man and society while at the same time providing hope in a physical as well as spiritual salvation. Pertaining to the specific issue you have brought up it is pertinent to know and understand that Islam supports the right of ANY oppressed person, regardless of color, class, race or religious creed to seek to free himself and as Muslims it is one of the most NOBLE acts to help that person do that as long as he/she does not seek to oppress another party. Islam’s mission is to establish peace. Saying that the rights of Greeks, Jews, Muslims, Arabs, Christians, Cypriots (“Turk” and “Greek”) etc. to free themselves involves a duty on us Muslims to assist them, BUT NOT at the expense of another’s right.
How long have you known about MAG??? I am a Muslim myself from Greece and only fairly recently have I become acquainted with it. Their voice is only NOW starting to be heard. How do you know they have not spoken on issues such as Cyprus before but because of their low key appearance nobody heard their voice. It just so happens that the main event around the world, Gaza , is coinciding with the blossoming of MAG and being the front current issue you heard MAG’s voice on it. There are literary TONS of issues that concern humans. Maybe when the time arises you will hear. Now if you think that you NEED MAG’s opinion on an issue such as Cyprus I personally do not understand why this demand. There are tons and tons of organizations and voices dedicated to this issue that HAVE and WILL HAVE more power and authority to address it. But do rest assure that as Muslims, I am sure MAG, and ALL practicing sane and understanding Muslims hold on to their canons to call a spade a spade and protect that right to an oppressed to free himself. I think enough said on that as this is clear enough. As Ali said on his first reply to you, and please be fair as a HUMAN BEING and as just and honest as possible, there are 2 sides to this coin and both are crying foul.
Having said that, I do not think that you should demand from MAG, or try to coax it in taking up a monopolistic political-nationalist issue. I DO NOT SPEAK FOR MAG. ONLY from MYSELF and as a Muslim. But I think their cause is for a higher cause and that is bringing peace and understanding between peoples, not enmity and strife. This is what I have seen so far by their actions. AND I SUPPORT THEIR CAUSE!