To the President and then to Euro Court

Source: Kathimerini

http://news.kathimerini.gr

The Chairman of the Muslim Association of Greece Mr Naim Elghandour reveals through “K” the intention to appeal to the European Court if their demand for an Islamic Mosque in Athens is not met. “The time is running out ,putting as deadline  the answer of The President of The Democracy in a related letter of the Union.
“The President of The Democracy is our last hope,” stresses Mr Elghadour “If there is no answer ,or if we see that despite his positive attitude ,still nothing is being done, the only way is The European Institution.

However already via specific websites (such as the popular greeksrethink.com) Muslims who live in our country are in a race to mobilise their  “brothers” abroad.
The Global Greek community is large and scattered in every corner of the globe(Canada, USA, UK, Australia and elsewhere.) “ We are asking for their support  in our cause ” says the Chairman of MAG . “Initially just to ask  the priest in their local parish if they would accept the creation of an Islamic Mosque in Athens.” Given recent statements by Archbishop Ieronymos who spoke about the obvious and inalienable right of every human being to freely worship his Lord. The Greek Muslims have secured a positive response from their priests.

“Listen! Things are simple” says Mr Elghandour. “ Thirty years have passed since allegedly started the construction of the Islamic Mosque but we are still at talks. I consider that the demand is not only ours but of every freedom loving person on the planet”.

Athens , a city in which live more than 700,00 Muslims , is the only European country without a Mosque and a Muslim Cemetery. For their worship needs the Muslims are served by app 100 informal mosques operating in various parts of the Capital , in apartments, garages, warehouses and basements. Even this way of exercising their religious duties is not without a hindrance. A few months ago the Prefecture in Athens fined the owner of  a basement in Nea Ionia ,which was being used as an informal mosque 60,000 and 30,000 Euros as there was no special licence for the premises.
The decision sparked off one of the largest (up to then) mobilisation of Muslims in Athens involving more than 1000 believers demanding an official place of worship.

We all remember the strong opposition of the Municipality and  of the residents of Paeania, when in 2000, by law 2833 it had been decided the construction of the Islamic Centre with the expenses to be borne by Saudi Arabia.
This project never materialised and the only reminder of the story is the cross on the slope of the mountain which continues to welcome those who leave the airport with Athens as their destination.

However neither the last chapter seems to have a happy ending for the Muslim community. This project which in 2006 passed in the Parliament according to which the Islami Mosque would be constructed at a naval base in  Botanicals ( where at the moment there is a supermarket and offices of the Greek Navy) and gave provision to a series of safeguards to prevent such as  the Imam being a civil servant.
In the beginning we were told that there were 57 acres.
From discussion to discussion  and while ministers were changing the area kept on  being reduced  and finally it was down to  16 acres.
“Even if it is 16 acres or 16 yards , please let us built at last” pleads Mr Elghandour.

Difficult…….. The navy claims that it needs 5 million Euros to relocate , money that nobody is willing to spend. “ We told them that we can mobilise our people to find the money and give it to them but they replied that it ….sin. At the same time they can not find the money. In response to a recent question by a member of parliament, Mr Perikles Korovesi , the Defence Ministry said that they would investigate if the construction of the Islamic Mosque  raises an issue of safety  to the base.
“ Now all of a sudden they  are afraid that the Muslims might go  to the supermarket  and steal macaroni and rice” says frowning  The Chairman of MGA , Mr Elghandour. And the letter we have sent to the Minister of Education remains unanswered.

“The truth is that we have not fallen to zero. We have fallen below zero. And for you to know, the  American Embassy and other International Human  Rights Organisations have approached us asking about these problems and I have answered “ No thanks, there is the possibility that  there is a mistake.” Because we are Greeks  and we have no intention to expose our country or be reported in the state department.
“We love Greece. The problems are ours and we do not need “the neighbourhood” to know.
But this is not appreciated by the Government” concludes Mr Elghandour.

Greek Parliament Member: Glory of Islam

Source:  Enet.gr

by Pericles Korovesis, PM SYRIZA to the Greek Parliament.

(Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά.  قراءة العربية)

“It needs one thousand sages to find a stone once thrown to the sea by an idiot.”  Old Chinese proverb.

But, it needs thousands of responsible citizens to protest in a much louder way than Greek Muslims have been doing for the last couple of weeks, after an idiot police officer in Athens, Greece had torn and stepped on a copy of the Noble Quraan.

At the end of the story, it seems convenient that we must stop the link of the Quraan with immigration: it’s time to accept that the truth of Islam embraces Greek citizens’ beliefs.

That poor cop didn’t know that Jesus and the Virgin Mary  are venerated in the Muslim world with the same honour as the Christians do so. How could he know that they are mentioned so many times in the Quranic text?

How might he explain to his parents that he had spat on Jesus and Virgin Mary? Islam is a religion and one of the great civilisations in the history of humanity. Thanks to the great philosophers and wise men of Islam, we have today important texts from the literature and science from the classic antiquity saved.  In plain words, no chance for modern science to exist without the Islamic contribution in mathematics (algebra), physics, medicine, geometry and astronomy.

Islam means submission to God: not so far from “obey to God” in Christian terms. Islam is one of the three monotheistic (Abrahamic)religions – Judaism and Christianity the other two.

The Noble Quraan appears during the 7th century as a text revealed from God to the Prophet Muhammad doesn’t bring any innovation; it reasserts what already existed as monotheistic values.

But it is focused on the issue of poverty, emphasizes on our responsibility to the poor and social solidarity, speaking the present tongue; this is a sine qua non for the Islamic faith.

Now we can understand why Islam had such a triumphant course in Pakistan and Indonesia, still on the move forward.

Islamic moral code includes these commandments: do not kill; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not tell lies. Everybody knows their origin in religion.

There are about 15 million Muslims in Europe (2002 statistics). Today, roughly estimated they approach 20 million. But what does it mean to us? Perhaps the person next door may be a Muslim and feeling Greek as we do.

Today the campaign against Islam is much the same as happened against communism at the cold war time. Let us recall what G.W. Bush said about the war of the good against the evil or Berlusconi’s statement about the superiority of Christianity over Islam, the theory about the clash of civilisations by S.Huddington since 2000, meaning the clash of the Christian vs. the Islamic world.

It is the Imperialism hidden behind anti-Islamism. This does not mean that corrupted and authoritarian governments and regimes do not exist on the name of the Prophet.  But, G.W. Bush wasn’t speaking on behalf of God? Or our Jesus Christ blocked black business in Vatopaidi monastery or bribes to come from Siemens?

Therefore, we as Greeks, have more reasons to come closer to our Muslim brothers.

Pericles Korovesis is an accomplished writer and journalist. His books are published in many languages and he is a regular columnist at various newspapers. He struggles for environmental, human rights, education, and immigrant causes.  He is member of the Greek Parliament at Syriza party (left). perikliskorovesis.wordpress.com

–

Photo credits:   perikliskorovesis.wordpress.com,

Περικλής Κοροβέσης: Η δόξα του Ισλάμ

Source:  Enet.gr

Περικλής Κοροβέσης

(Read in English.  قراءة العربية)

«Οταν ένας ηλίθιος πετάξει μια πέτρα στη θάλασσα, χίλιοι σοφοί δεν μπορούν να τη μαζέψουν», λέει κάποια παλιά κινέζικη παροιμία.

Αλλά, όταν ένας ηλίθιος αστυνομικός σκίζει ένα Κοράνι στην Αθήνα, θα πρέπει να βρεθούν χιλιάδες υπεύθυνοι Ελληνες και να διαμαρτυρηθούν περισσότερο απ’ ό,τι διαμαρτυρήθηκε η μουσουλμανική κοινότητα της Ελλάδας. Τελικά το Ισλάμ θα πρέπει να πάψει να ταυτίζεται με τους μετανάστες και να αναγνωρίσουμε πως αυτή η θρησκεία ανήκει και σε Ελληνες πολίτες. Πού να ξέρει ο φουκαράς ο μπάτσος πως μέσα στις σελίδες που έσκισε υπήρχε και ο Χριστός και η Παναγία, που λατρεύονται στον ισλαμικό κόσμο με την ίδια αξία που λατρεύονται και στον χριστιανικό κόσμο. Και τι θα πει άραγε στη μάνα του και τον πατέρα του όταν τον ρωτήσουν γιατί έφτυσε τον Χριστό και την Παναγία;

Το Ισλάμ, εκτός από θρησκεία, είναι και ένας από τους μεγαλύτερους πολιτισμούς που έχει γνωρίσει η ανθρωπότητα. Και είναι χάρη στους μεγάλους φιλοσόφους και σοφούς μουσουλμάνους που σώθηκαν τα βασικά κείμενα της αρχαίας ελληνικής γραμματείας και έφτασαν μέχρι τις μέρες μας. Και πολύ απλά, δεν θα υπήρχαν οι σύγχρονες επιστήμες αν δεν υπήρχε η συνεισφορά του ισλαμικού πολιτισμού στα μαθηματικά (η ανακάλυψη της άλγεβρας), στη φυσική, στην ιατρική, στην οπτική, στη γεωμετρία και στην αστρονομία.

Ισλάμ σημαίνει υποταγή στον Θεό. Δεν διαφέρει και πολύ με τη χριστιανική έννοια της υπακοής. Και αυτή θρησκεία είναι, πολύ κοντά στις δύο άλλες μεγάλες μονοθεϊστικές θρησκείες, του ιουδαϊσμού και του χριστιανισμού. Και το κοράνι, που εμφανίζεται τον 7ο αιώνα σαν ένα θεόπνευστο κείμενο προς τον προφήτη Μωάμεθ, δεν έχει νεωτερισμούς. Επιβεβαιώνει τις προηγούμενες αξίες του μονοθεϊσμού και δίνει ιδιαίτερη έμφαση στους φτωχούς, που μεταφραζόμενο στα καθ’ ημάς σημαίνει κοινωνική αλληλεγγύη, αναπόσπαστο μέρος της πίστης. Και αυτό εξηγεί τον θρίαμβο του μουσουλμανισμού σε τρεις μη αραβικές χώρες, όπως η Ινδονησία, το Πακιστάν και το Μπανγκλαντές και είναι μια θρησκεία που επεκτείνεται συνεχώς.

Το ου φονεύσεις, το ου μοιχεύσεις, το ου κλέψεις και το ου ψευδομαρτυρήσεις είναι ο βασικός ηθικός κώδικας του Ισλάμ. Και όλοι ξέρουμε από πού προέρχεται. Στην Ευρώπη έχουμε περίπου δεκαπέντε εκατομμύρια μουσουλμάνους (στοιχεία του 2002). Σήμερα μπορεί να είναι είκοσι. Και αυτό σημαίνει: Μουσουλμάνος μπορεί να είναι και ο άνθρωπος της διπλανής πόρτας και να είναι το ίδιο Ελληνας όπως και εμείς.

Οαντιισλαμισμός σήμερα έχει πάρει τη μορφή του αντικομμουνισμού κατά τη διάρκεια του Ψυχρού Πολέμου. Να θυμηθούμε τις παλιότερες δηλώσεις του προέδρου Μπους για τον «πόλεμο του καλού εναντίον του κακού», που ήταν βέβαια το Ισλάμ ή τις δηλώσεις του Μπερλουσκόνι «για την υπεροχή του δυτικού πολιτισμού απέναντι στο Ισλάμ». Ή ακόμα τις θεωρίες του Σάμουελ Χάντινγκτον για τον πόλεμο των πολιτισμών ήδη από το 2000. Μιλούσε για την αναπόφευκτη σύγκρουση μεταξύ του χριστιανικού και μουσουλμανικού κόσμου. Πίσω από τον αντιισλαμισμό υπάρχει η σύγχρονη μορφή του ιμπεριαλισμού. Και είναι λογικό αυτό να τροφοδοτεί μορφές ακραίου ισλαμισμού, που είναι μια ελάχιστη μειοψηφία στον κόσμο του Ισλάμ. Αυτό δεν σημαίνει πως δεν υπάρχουν αυταρχικά κράτη στο όνομα του Ισλάμ και διεφθαρμένες κυβερνήσεις πάλι στο όνομα του προφήτη. Αλλά και ο Μπους στο όνομα του Θεού δεν μιλούσε; Και ο δικός μας ο Χριστός εμπόδισε κάποια κομπίνα στο Βατοπέδι ή στη Ζίμενς; Αρα εμείς οι Ελληνες έχουμε έναν παραπάνω λόγο να καταλαβαίνουμε τους αδελφούς μουσουλμάνους.

* Συγγραφέας-βουλευτής ΣΥΡΙΖΑ Α’ Αθηνών

perkor29@gmail.com

Fury of Muslims in Greece, Leading Where?

Translated By  Ms. Anna Stamou >

The torn copy of the Holy Qur’ http://www.islamonline.net For two subsequent days hundreds of Muslim immigrant demonstrators filled the streets in Athens protesting against an incident that a police officer had torn up a copy of the Holy Qur’an. The incidents caused different kinds of reactions and resurfaced the problematic status of the marginalized Greek Muslims.According to Mr. Naim El-Ghandour, President of the Muslims Association in Greece (MAG), there was an abrupt police raid on a Syrian café in Athens, across Nicolas Church Street. The clients were checked by Greek policemen who asked the immigrants to show their ID credentials. They also ordered the immigrants to take off their shoes, socks. They were thoroughly searched. However, nothing illegal was found and the immigrants proved to be legally residents of the country. Up to that point, nobody was to blame… During the raid, one of the Greek officers, whose identity is still anonymous, approached Mohammad, 24 years, speaks poor Greek, and asked him to empty his pockets. Worth mentioning that the Syrian café is a meeting and a recreational place for many Muslims in Athens. Among the belongings of the young man, the officer found a booklet with Arabic characters and asked what it was. “It is the Holy Qur’an, which I recite every morning and evening” Mohammad replied. “As you recite the Gospel, we have the Qur’an” he tried to explain. The police officer’s reaction to those words was that he tore the Holy Qur’an up, threw it on the floor, and stepped on it. One of his fellow officers asked him to stop because this was the Holy book of the Muslims, but in vain… Immediate Reactions With a torn up version of the Holy Qur’an, the President of the Muslim Association of Greece headed for the closest police station and the Public Order and Safety (Ministry of Internal Affairs in Greece) and reported the sacrilege. Statements of the Greek Authorities As a rejection to any kind of anti-religious freedom action, Mr. Evangelos Antonaros, the Deputy Government Spokesman, issued the following statement on May 22, 2009 (full statement is on the official website of the Ministry of Interior, Hellenic Government, click here): “The Greek State totally respects the religious freedom of everyone and distinctly convicts any kind of insult for such freedom, especially insulting sacred texts and symbols that are inextricable parts of any faith. Every action that is turned against the religious freedom of the others warrants total disapproval of the Greek society that traditionally accepts with hospitality people belonging to any race or religion, since they respect the laws of our country.” Muslims’ Feelings after the Insult Mr. Naim El-Ghandour with the torn copy of the Holy Qur’an. “The fact that the police officer tore up the Qur’an and stepped on it is a major crime as far as Muslims are concerned,” Mr. Naim El-Ghandour explained.“The Qur’an is our sacred symbol and represents our Faith,” “It is a tremendous insult of the religious beliefs of people who have found themselves targeted by wars and islamophobia evoked against them even in Greece,” El-Ghandour highlighted with sorrow. On the governmental level, Mr. Christos Markogiannakis, the Deputy Minister of Inner Affairs stated that: “The General Police Administration of Athens is investigating this case in which a policeman is accused of insulting a religious symbol. The inquiry goes into depth and whoever is proven responsible for such act will be brought to justice. Escalating the Situation Moreover, Mr. Naim added that some of the small Left parties misused the situation by provoking the immigrants to demonstrate against the racist and oppressive acts of the police in St. Panteleimonas area. Demonstrations centred in the heart of Athens where those parties distributed posters with their claims, using the ripped part of the Qur’an as a trigger for violent reactions. Consequently, the Hellenic Government replied to those actions saying: “The incident is still under investigation. Yet, it does not justify the actions by some people who are determined to commit damages to civilians’ properties nor to engage in civil clashes causing injuries and disturbing severely the social and economical life of the city,” added Mr. Markogiannakis. MAG Attitude On the other hand, Mr. Naim El-Ghandour stressed “the Muslim Association of Greece as well as the habitués of all mosques in Athens has refused to participate in any demonstration.” “We resort to the legal channels. We are waiting to recognize the name of the involved police officer in order to sue him. Of course we have every confidence in the Greek Judicial System. As the whole country faces depression and crisis, a reckless man commits an irresponsible action and creates a problem. To All Immigrants During his statement, Mr. Markogiannakis addressed the whole immigrant community saying: “We ask the legitimate immigrants who live in Greece to respect peace and order assuring that the State will not allow such extremist behaviors. We expect from all political forces to show responsibility, to satisfy the demands of the civilians within law and order. The problem of illegal immigration is a sensitive national issue.” (Full Statement by the Greek Deputy Minister of Interior for the current events in the center of Athens in Greek, Please click here to view) Causes for the outrageous reaction “Many of the new immigrants are young, kids of 19, 20  years old, who have no jobs, face every day hunger, and have lots of problems..” Mr. El-Ghandour explained. Under such circumstances, the slightest provocation can cause an explosion and especially for a religious symbol. We should have mutual respect for each other’s religions. Everyone should treat the other’s sanctuaries with respect. The politicians need to speed up action and find a solution for the immigrants’ problems and we must learn to live together respecting each other,” he added. Political Declarations On a broader level, all the political parties in Greece have condemned this incident. Characteristically, the PASOK Spokesman Giorgos Papakonstantinou pointed out that the “phenomena of humiliation and disrespect of the religious rights and the insult of symbols of any religion cannot be tolerated for any citizen;  Greek or immigrant.” (For more information, please click here). Causalities on all levels The Pakistanis, Afghanis, and Bangladeshis participated in those demonstrations that lasted for two days and serious damages occurred: many stores, cars, bus stops were smashed. Many thieveries occurred; there were also injured policemen and immigrants. Again, the smell of tear gas and of the cocktail Molotov canisters was spread everywhere in Athens. Late at night, a small group of people set fire to a basement of a residential building where there was a prayer place, an unofficial mosque for the Bangladesh community. Four people were inside the prayer place at that hour and luckily they were not hurt. However, none was blamed for this terrorist act which was regarded as an act of revenge. Mohammed, the immigrant involved with the officer, having the torn version of the Holy Quran accompanied by Mr. Naim El-Ghandour, the president of Muslim Association of Greece, and represented by the distinguished attorney Frangiskos Ragousis filed a lawsuit at the Hellenic Courts on Monday May the 24th. All parties are waiting for the Court’s ruling…

بقلم: بريكليس كوروﭭيسيس – مجد الاسلام

Source:  Enet.gr

بقلم: بريكليس كوروﭭيسيس

(Read in English.  Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά.)

“عندما يلقي أحمق حجر في البحر نحتاج إلي ألف حكيم لإخراجه”. مثل صيني قديم

عندما يمزق شرطي أحمق يوناني القرآن في أثينا لابد أن يوجد آلاف اليونانيين الأحرار لكي يخرجوا ليعبروا عن غضبهم بجانب الغاضبين المسلمين الذين خرجوا إلي الشارع في الأسبوعين الماضيين و لابد أن يفهم اليونانيين أن الإسلام لا ينتمي إليه المهاجرين فقط و لكن هو معتقد للكثير من المواطنين اليونانيين.

إن هذا الشرطي الجاهل لم يكن يعلم أن السيد المسيح (النبي عيسى) ، ومريم العذراء (مريم) مبجلين في العالم الإسلامي بنفس درجةالشرف التي يفعل فيهاالمسيحيون ذلك. كيف يمكن له أن يعرف أنهم ذكروافي القرآن مرات عديدة؟

كيف يمكن له أن يفسر لوالديه انه بصق على يسوع ومريم العذراء؟

الدين الاسلامي من أعظم  الأديان و حضارته من أعظم الحضارات. اليوم نقدم الشكر الكبير للفلاسفة والحكماء المسليمن لانه بفضلهم تم حفظ الكثير من النصوص الهامة في الأدب و العلوم من العصور القديمة.

وبعبارة واضحةوصريحة لا يمكن ان يكون هنالك أي فرصة للعلوم الحديثة لولا وجود المساهمات الإسلامية في الرياضيات (الجبر) ، والفيزياء والطب والهندسة وعلم الفلك.

الاسلام يعني الخضوع لله : و ليس بعيد عن مصطلح “طاعة الله” في المسيحية هو واحد من الاديان السماوية الثلاث.

وأن القرآن الكريم خلال القرن السابع جاء لتأكيد ما سبق من القيم السماوية التي كانت موجودة. و لكنه ركز على مسألة الفقر ، واكد على انه على عاتقنا مسؤولية تجاه الفقراء واكد على التكافل الاجتماعي ، وهذا شرط لا غنى عنه  في العقيدة الإسلامية.

و بذلك  يمكننا أن نفهم لماذا انتشر الإسلام في باكستان و بنجلاديش واندونيسيا ، ولا يزال متقدماًإلى الأمام.

نظام الاخلاق الاسلامي يشمل على هذه الاوامر ؛ لا تقتل ، لا تزني ، لا تسرق ، لاتكذب. هناك نحو 15 مليون مسلم في أوروبا (إحصاءات 2002) واليوم ، يقدر بنحو 20 مليون. و لكن ماذا يعني هذا. انه يعني ان الشخص المجاور قد يكون من المسلمين اليونانين. ان الحملة اليوم كبيرة جداً ضد الإسلام، كما حدث ضد الشيوعية في الحرب الباردة.

ولنتذكر ما قاله الرئيس السابق بوش عن حرب الخير ضد الشر ، أو برلسكونى حول تفوق المسيحية على الإسلام ، وحول نظرية صراع الحضارات من قبل س. هديجتون و الذي يعني الصدام بين المسيحية و الإسلام.

انهاامبريالية تخفي وراءها (لا-اسلامية). هذا لا يعني أن الحكومات الفسادة والأنظمة الاستبدادية غير موجودة ولكن ،  لم يكن الرئيس السابق بوش يتحدث بنيابة عن الله ، او ان يسوع المسيح منع الأعمال السوداء في دير “فتوبيدي”. او  الرشاوى التي جائت من سيمنز؟

ولذلك ، نحن اليونانيين ، لدينا أسباب اكثر للاقتراب من إخواننا المسلمين.

بريكليس كوروﭭيسيس:كاتب وصحافي كتبه نشرت في العديد من اللغات ، وهو كاتب عمود منتظم في مختلف الصحف.  وهو من المنضالين من أجل البيئة ، وحقوق الإنسان ، والتعليم ، والمهاجرين. وهو عضو في البرلمان اليوناني في حزب Syriza.

المدونة الشخصية: http://perikliskorovesis.wordpress.com

Press Release: The Muslim Association of Greece

Athens, 26^th May 2009

The Muslim Association of Greece was present from the first instance the complaint of the ripped Qur’an was reported, when a policeman ripped and treaded on an immigrant’s Holy Qur’an during a police inspection. The complainant surrendered his ripped Qur’an straight to us and with this in hand we went to the police station, where we and the Colonel sent by GADA discussed the incident in detail.

We were assured by him that the name of the police officer involved in the incident will be released to us and that the police force strongly condemns actions such as those that offend the religious feelings of citizens. We stated that we will resort to legal action and that we will wait in good faith for the name of the police officer involved to be given to us before we file for a report.

We strongly condemn the incidents in Central Athens, assuring that our members did not participate in the events and   instead we had moved towards defusing the situation as we had accepted   the promise given to us by the police towards defusing the situation in good faith.

The media (MME) reported our position precisely and broadcasted the message to hundreds of thousands Muslims in the country and abroad stating that calm should prevail and we should allow the issue to be dealt by the law. We submitted to GADA the witness reports and data along with the ripped Qur’an and we continued waiting for the name of the police officer to be given to us before we officially proceed with the submission of  our complaint to the courts.

On Tuesday 25^th May 2009 we submitted to the court the complaint towards “Unknown.” We were pleased with that as we thought we are heading towards a solution of the problem even without us having the name of the police officer.

Unfortunately during the subsequent meeting between The President of The Muslim Association of Greece, Naim Elghnadour our Council Mr Francis Raghousi  along with the Brigadier in charge of the case of GADA it became obvious that the police do not wish for a solution but for a continuation of the issue.

It was explained to us that the officer’s name will not be given, at least not in the near future  and  perhaps a month or more might lapse as the police officer has right to defer and defend.

As you understand this reverses our efforts for appeasement and it could possibly trigger reactions from the entire Muslim population in Athens, who in the meantime have been accepting our urge not to protest and seek solutions through the legal channels.

For this reason the Arabs in Athens will meet with The Muslim Association of Greece on Wednesday at 8.00pm to calmly discuss and plan their next move.

Any possible new peace moves will be made known at a later press release. We repeat that we condemn the incidents in Central Athens, the theft, the damages as we also condemn the violation and attack of religious symbols and sentiments of the people. We condemn the exploitation of a part of the immigrants by political parties, heightening religious faith, multiplying their sense of injustice resulting in uncontrollable consequences. The faith of a Muslim is the most precious possession he has, and we having our faith as driver live in harmony in the society here for decades.

We believe that the police incident was just an isolate incident .We would like to end this matter with a legal solution and not to be exposed and  hanging as a result of the worrying delay by the police, and to the end issue by surrendering the personal details of the officer involved.

Thanking you

The Muslim Association of Greece

Aθηνα
26 Μαΐου 2009

Δελτίο Τύπου

Η Μουσουλμανική Ένωση Ελλάδας από την πρώτη στιγμή ήταν παρούσα στην καταγγελία του περιστατικού όπου αστυνομικός έσκισε και πάτησε το Κοράνι ενός μετανάστη κατά τη διάρκεια τυπικού ελέγχου. Το Κοράνι το παρέδωσε ο καταγγέλων στα χέρια μας και με αυτό πήγαμε στο αστυνομικό τμήμα όπου συζητήσαμε λεπτομερώς με τον συνταγματάρχη που απέστειλε η ΓΑΔΑ για αυτό το λόγο. Μας διαβεβαίωσε ότι τάχιστα θα μας δώσει το όνομα του αστυνομικού και πως η Ελληνική Αστυνομία καταδικάζει τέτοιες ενέργειες που προσβάλλουν το θρησκευτικό αίσθημα των πολιτών. Εμείς δηλώσαμε ότι θα προσφύγουμε στη δικαιοσύνη και πως καλή τη πίστει θα περιμένουμε από την αστυνομία να μας δώσει το όνομα προκειμένου να προχωρήσουμε στην κατάθεση της μήνυσης, έτσι ώστε να παρέλθει και η διαδικασία του αυτοφώρου, όλα αυτά καλόπιστα.
Καταδικάσαμε έντονα τα επεισόδια στο κέντρο της Αθήνας, τα μέλη μας δεν συμμετείχαν, αντίθετα κινηθήκαμε προς εκτόνωση του θέματος καθώς θεωρήσαμε δεδομένες τις υποσχέσεις της αστυνομίας ότι θα κινηθεί ανάλογα προκειμένου να οδηγηθούμε σε εκτόνωση. Τα ΜΜΕ κάλυψαν με ακρίβεια τις θέσεις μας και μετέδωσαν το μήνυμα στους εκατοντάδες χιλιάδες Μουσουλμάνους της χώρας αλλά και στο εξωτερικό που δηλώναμε ότι πρέπει να ηρεμήσουμε και να αφήσουμε το θέμα στα χέρια του νόμου.
Καταθέσαμε στην ΓΑΔΑ τις μαρτυρίες και τα στοιχεία μας καθώς και το σκισμένο Κοράνι, και αναμέναμε το όνομα του αστυνομικού προκειμένου να καταθέσουμε και επίσημα τη μήνυση στο δικαστήριο. Την Τρίτη 25 Μαΐου 2009 καταθέσαμε μήνυση κατ’αγνώστου και δηλώσαμε ικανοποιημένοι γιατί έτσι οδεύαμε προς λύση του ζητήματος έστω και χωρίς όνομα.
Δυστυχώς στη μετέπειτα συνάντηση του προέδρου της Μουσουλμανικής Ένωσης Ελλάδας Ναΐμ Ελγαντούρ και του συνήγορού μας κ. Φραγκίσκου Ραγκούση με τον ταξίαρχο της ΓΑΔΑ που έχει αναλάβει την υπόθεση, μας έγινε σαφές ότι η Αστυνομία δεν επιθυμεί λύση αλλά συνέχιση της παρούσας κατάστασης. Μας εξηγήθηκε πως δεν πρόκειται να μας δοθεί όνομα, σύντομα τουλάχιστον, ότι θα περάσει ίσως και ένας μήνας προκειμένου να απολογηθεί ο εν λόγω αστυνομικός καθώς έχει το δικαίωμα αναβολής.
Όπως αντιλαμβάνεστε αυτό ανατρέπει την προσπάθειά μας κατευνασμού και είναι δυνατό να πυροδοτήσει αντιδράσεις από το σύνολο του Μουσουλμανικού πληθυσμού της Αθήνας που μέχρι στιγμής δεν έχει διαδηλώσει καθώς ακολούθησε την προτροπή μας για λύση μέσω της νομικής οδού.
Για το λόγο αυτό οι Άραβες της Αθήνας θα συνεδριάσουν Τετάρτη ώρα 8μμ με τη Μουσουλμανική Ένωση Ελλάδας προκειμένου να σχεδιάσουν με ψυχραιμία τις επόμενες κινήσεις τους. Τυχόν ειρηνικές κινητοποιήσεις θα γίνουν γνωστές σε επόμενο δελτίο τύπου.
Επαναλαμβάνουμε πως καταδικάζουμε τ, τις φθορές, τις επιθέσεις, τις κλοπές, όπως καταδικάζουμε την καταπάτηση α επεισόδια στο κέντρο της Αθήναςκαι προσβολή των θρησκευτικών συμβόλων και αισθημάτων των πολιτών. Καταδικάζουμε την εκμετάλλευση μερίδας μεταναστών από πολιτικές κινήσεις εγείροντας την θρησκευτική τους πίστη πολλαπλασιάζοντας το αίσθημα αδικίας μέσα τους με ανεξέλεγκτες συνέπειες.
Η Πίστη του Μουσουλμάνου είναι ό,τι ακριβότερο διαθέτει και εμείς έχοντας οδηγό την Πίστη μας ζούμε αρμονικά στην κοινωνία εδώ και δεκαετίες. Πιστεύουμε ότι η ενέργεια του αστυνομικού ήταν ένα μεμονωμένο περιστατικό, θα θέλαμε να λήξει εκεί με τη νομική λύση και όχι να βρισκόμαστε εκτεθειμένοι και μετέωροι από την ανησυχητική καθυστέρηση της αστυνομίας να τελειώσει το ζήτημα αυτό δίνοντας επιτέλους τα στοιχεία του καταγγελόμενου αστυνομικού.

Ευχαριστούμε

Το Δ.Σ. της Μουσουλμανικής Ένωσης Ελλαδος
Επικοινωνία
Ναΐμ Ελγαντούρ
τηλ.6972 008214 – naim_elghandour@yahoo.gr

Exclusive photos: Quran indeed ripped by police in Greece

These photos below were taken as evidence that indeed pages from the Quran were ripped by a police officer in Athens, Greece.

 

 

Photo credits to to www.enet.gr and www.ethnos.gr.

Related article:  Operation broom: Racism in all its glory

Operation broom: racism in all its glory

Source:  Enet.gr

 

The “Operation Broom” of the Greek Police, a careless act and a torn up Qur’an brought to the streets hundreds of Muslims in Athens.

The night before last and during a police raid in an Arab Café in Aharnon St. in Athens, a meeting and a recreational point of  the many Muslims of the city, a police officer smashed to pieces one of the very few things that support these people: ” Their Faith.”

Hundreds of Muslim immigrants gathered in Kypseli protesting against the insult towards their religion.

According to eye witnesses, a police team of about 7-8, who were yesterday patrolling the area of Agios Panteleimonas, entered at 9.00pm the specific café, which at the time was full and asked the patrons to produce their documents.

“They ordered them to take off their shoes, socks and they were searching everything,” say the immigrants, pointing out that the café has a good reputation and families often visit.

During the raid one of the police officers approached Mohammad, 24, who speaks poor Greek and asked him to empty his pockets.

The police officer among the belongings of the young man discovered a booklet with Arabic characters.

“What is this?!” he asked. “It is the Holy Qur’an, which I recite every morning and evening” he replied. “As you recite the Gospel, we have the Qur’an” he tried to explain. The police officer then snatched the Qur’an from the young man’s hands and ripped it to pieces.

“Don’t rip it man” shouted one of his fellow officers. “They can ….” He then shouted and threw the Quran on the floor. Later with a torn up Qur’an in their hands the representatives of Muslims in Greece addressed the Ministry of Public Order and Safety, reporting the abuse.

“This is the first time such an event has taken place in Greece and it should not be repeated” they replied.

Yesterday afternoon, when the incident was announced, large groups of Muslims gathered and marched in front of the A.T Kypselis at the junction of Thira and Patision.

In that position there were two MAT Squads. The assembly started shouting slogans, reacting and responding to the insult towards their religion, at the same time throwing some stones and rubbish resulting in the cause of some damage to one vehicle and one shop.

Bystanders reported that the police retaliated by throwing tear gas and chemicals aiming to move the demonstrators on, forcing them towards Omonoia Sq. to continue with their protest.

“The fact that the police officer tore up the Qur’an and stepped on it is a major crime as far as Muslims are concerned” says the Chairman of the Muslim Association of Greece, Naim El-Ghandour.

“The Qur’an is our symbol and represents our faith.” And a Muslim is only worth what his faith is worth. In the meantime communities and associations of immigrants from Arab countries (Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh) are calling in protest this afternoon. The movement “Abandon Racism is demanding an immediate dismissal of the police officer.

This demand is based on the laws of racial discrimination. They also demand an official apology by the Greek government.

“It is a tremendous insult of the religious beliefs of people, people who have found themselves targeted by wars and Islamophobia that follows them even in Greece.

“It seems that Pavlopoulos and Makrogiannakis were enough to encourage the police to take on literally a crusade against immigrants of Greece.

Anti Capitalistic Left Wing in cooperation with Anatropi ( ANT.A.R.SY.A) are talking about the racist and oppressive acts of the police in Agios Panteleiomonas.

As a Muslim Union, we from all the mosques have refused to participate in today’s protest march” says Mr. El-Ghandour.  “We choose the legal channels. We are waiting to learn the name of the police officer involved in order that we follow the legal route.  Of course we have every confidence in the Greek judicial system. As the whole country faces depression and crisis, an irresponsible man comes along commits an irresponsible act and creates a problem.  Many of the new immigrants are young kids of 19, 20, who have no jobs, face every day hunger and have lots of problems…

For them in those circumstances the slightest provocation can cause an explosion.  We should have mutual respect for each others religions. Every one should treat the other’s sanctuaries with respect. The politicians need to hurry and find a solution for the immigrants’ problems and we must learn to live together respecting each other.”

Athens: Muslims protest Koran destruction

Source:  Reuters

Muslims protest alleged Koran destruction in Greece

 

Hundreds of Muslims marched through central Athens on Thursday, damaging shops and cars, to protest what they said was the destruction of a Koran by a Greek policeman.

The president of the Muslim Union of Greece, Naim Elghandour, said that during police checks at a Syrian-owned coffee shop on Wednesday, an officer took a customer’s Koran, tore it up, threw it on the floor and stomped on it.

In response, about 1,000 immigrants, many from Syria, Pakistan and Afghanistan, marched to central Omonia Square, smashing several shop windows and five cars, a police official said.

Police sources said an internal investigation was launched into the Koran incident.

“We were told by police we will be given the name of the policeman who did this so we can press charges,” Elghandour said.

Thousands of immigrants, many from Muslim countries, cross into Greece illegally every year seeking a better life in the West. Trapped in legal limbo, most have no jobs, live in squalid conditions and are often arrested for minor crimes.

On May 9, members of a rightist group attacked immigrants in Athens, sending at least three to hospital. Rights groups accuse predominantly Orthodox Christian Greece of not doing enough to protect immigrants.

 

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photo credit: (¯`·.¸¸.¤*¨¨*¤.๑۩۩۩๑Zeyneeep!

Too much God bless… (Κύρ’ ελέησον)

Source:  Enet.gr

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