Prayer on the sidewalk
August 29, 2010

Source: Protagon
By Naim Elghandour
Ramadan in Athens for the 37th time. It started on August 11 with the sweltering heat and will end on September 10th. The first days of adjustment are always harder as the rhythms of life do not change despite the fasting from sunrise to sunset.
Late evening before August 15th, after having iftar at home, which is the dinner that breaks the fast, I took Sheikh Mohammed, a respectful imam from Al Azhar university to go and pray at Piraeus. Al Andalus is the name of the praying place but it does not remind me anything of the glory of Andalusia as it is an underground warehouse on Filonos street in the heart Trouba where we pray for the last 17 years.
As we go down and go inside, in the first five minutes the sweat is running like a river. My breath stopped and the 60 year old imam who came from upper Egypt who can [usually[ bear the heat was ready to collapse. He told me that his sweat was dripping under his face all the way down to his socks. Why???
I was in despair because I am responsible for all these people who come to pray. I prayed that the temperature falls a bit to avoid the ambulances. You cannot put ventilation in this place nor air condition because it has no window. It is a hole under the ground.
We finished our prayer as [best] we could and when we went up to the surface I realized that this cannot happen again. The temperature at 11pm was 37°C and who knows about the humidity, it was suffocating even in open air.
The day after, I informed the state security that we were going to pray on the sidewalk outside of the “mosque” and that it is better to bring us a police car than to be taken by ambulances.
Sunday at 10 in the night all prayer mats were laid down on the sidewalk of Filonos street and the few people that walked by were surprised. Of course we did not bother anyone, all stores were closed. But we were alert, you never know what could happen, but the prayer was more humane in those hot days.
And I am thinking: What does a man have to go through to praise God as He deserves? My little kids were crying to take them with me earlier, but where can I take them?
Sometimes I take them to the Neos Kosmos garage that has better ventilation and they play with the other kids. There, the older kids are learning how to pray and the little ones imitate the grownups and then they start chasing each other and laugh, but we are always underground. When we finish, I buy them ice cream.
This is how Ramadan is in our great city.
———
Translated by: Anna Stamou
Me Allah and you…bureaucracy
August 21, 2010
The adventures and the backward steps for the establishment of the Athens mosque
Source: Vima Newspaper
By Mariniki Alevizopoulou
“If today we are able to ask the Greek prime minister ‘when we will open the Athens mosque?’ that happens thanks to the steps we made,” stated the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan allying the nationalistic groups in his country.
At the same time the Christian pilgrims were attending the historical service at the remains of Holy Mary Soumela of Pontus, for the first time after 88 years. A few days before some other nationalistic groups had desecrated the graves of a Muslim cemetery in Komotini. Those two facts made the Turkish prime minister feel ‘one step in front of the Greeks’ causing discomfort (and) of the Muslims that live in Greece.
“If the government looked this matter of the mosque with greater seriousness, they wouldn’t have pressure via statements from abroad,” responds the almost disappointed president of the Muslim Association of Greece Mr. Naim Elghandour and continues, “Everything was ready since 2006. Even the funds were there; 15 million euro are in the treasury of the Ministry of Education since that time. This is important to emphasize that in a so crucial financial period for Greece. Maybe part of this money comes from EU.”
The blame is not only on the backward steps of the political will and the political timing that almost four years have passed without a step. The mosque is one but the authorities that are involved in the construction are endless: foreign ministry, education ministry, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Finance and the City of Athens are all basic players. And the Greek bureaucracy is there at every step.
Meanwhile the square footage of the mosque, that he and the thousands of religious Muslims that live in our country are waiting from 2006 to be constructed, are decreasing. “In the beginning the measurements in the blueprint from the general secretary of the minister of education Mrs. Marietta Giannakou, was 56.000m². At the next meeting, it became 42, the governments change and I make a third meeting to drop at 24 and we reached today 16.000m².”
The objections came from the Church. “Since the first moment that the construction of the mosque came up, the Holy Synod had not an opposite opinion. And that because every human has the right of religious freedom where worship is included, which is a respectful right and is entrenched by the constitution,” states the representative of the Holy Synod, Bishop of Nafpaktos Ierotheos. “In fact, at the same time, in an action of good will the Church bestowed for use 30.000m² from its land in Shisto to create a Muslim cemetery.” The truth is that in the plans of the new Christian cemetery in Shisto, in order to cover the needs of the municipalities of Piraeus and Moshato, was from the beginning a plan for a Muslim cemetery in this area.
Then everything changed. “The Church objected at the establishment of an Islamic educational center,” clarified Mr. Ierotheos. “The concern of the Archbishop Christodoulos was intense for such a center because centers like that promote not only the religious teachings but also political propaganda.”
The area for the cemetery at Shisto finally was found unsuitable because of the terrain, the Islamic center was found “dangerous” and somehow the discussion (and the concern) came back to the mosque. “The law of 2006 at the first New Democracy party government was zoning the mosque at a part of Eleonas. At the second government of Karamanlis, under the authority of his office was formed a committee where we as City of Athens were participating, because this area belongs to the Ministry of National Defense and is characterized as a ‘navy fort’ but it must become a green park and come to the authority of the City of Athens,” states Mrs. Tasia Lagoudaki, topographer of the City of Athens.
Things already became complex without calculating the reef of National Defense ministry, that owns the “navy fort” based on a royal order. “In fact it is a garage with five buses,” Mr. Elghandour supports and continues. “The defense ministry is compromised with 5 million euro and 10 month time to relocate the navy. While the minister was Mr. Meimarakis (and after a formal question of PM Pericles Korovesis in the parliament) he asked initially 68 million (!). We proposed to go out with coupons – not from abroad, we do not want foreign money to build the Athens mosque, we want the Greek state to control it, to gather money from the immigrants and from the Greek Muslims.” This proposition was not accepted and the last elections came.
When will we come out of the underground garages?
“After the first 100 days of the new government and particularly the 110th day I sent a letter to the Defense ministry because the problem is with them. As a Greek who has served the Hellenic army I have the courage to complain,” notes Mr. Naim Elghandour who lives 38 years in our country. As a result they invited me and went with all data in hands. For the time being the only movements you can observe are statements before the visit of the prime minister to a country that is in danger to be asked for the mosque, and endless calls from foreign and domestic press to my phone for the development of the mosque. I do not want to harm the image of Greece abroad. At “Focus” I did not respond to them after the front cover with Aphrodite with the finger. Does anyone appreciate that? Will our children ever come out of the underground garages, and now that we have Ramadan with 40°C we are risking to be carried by the ambulances?” he wonders.
The adventure started at 1996
The adventures of the mosque in Greece, as states at “Vima” the vice president of the government Mr. Theodore Pangalos, have their roots way back. “This story started at 1996 by my initiative and based in two thoughts. Firstly that we are the only European country that has not a mosque and secondly that in Athens that time were gathered about 50.000-60.000 without an official and established place to perform their religious duties, when in all Muslim countries there are Orthodox Churches even in Teheran.”
That time as a foreign minister he prepared a draft law describing the establishment of a Muslim religious and cultural institution in the Hellenic capital. “The Greek state would have the control, the majority of the funds would be ours but we would accept contributions from countries that were willing to do so. At that time Arab countries as Saudi Arabia and Egypt showed interest. The Institution would include a library, a place of worship and a place of gathering as in weddings, for example, men and women celebrate separately.” The plan proceeded for Peania.
“The Archbishop of that time had stated his approval, the mayor of Peania the same, the Arabs as well.” But on 1999 Mr. Pangalos left the foreign ministry with Otsalan case and somewhere there “the plan was abandoned and the reactions started.”
Evidence for international courts
August 17, 2010
Source: Enet
This is a photo from material that was saved and sent to “Eleftherotypia”. It shows Israeli soldiers with the guns in their hands on Greek flag cargo ship “Eleftheri Mesogeios” (Free Mediterranean) while they are arresting an activist, professor Vangelis Pissias.
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The initative “A Ship to Gaza” stated at “E” that the whole material and the photograph will be used as evidence at international courts.
The initiative addresses a question to the Greek government: “What is Netaniahou doing in Greece? He is accountable both to UN and to his country.”
Συγκλονιστική η μαρτυρία του δημοσιογράφου που μετείχε στην αποστολή
June 4, 2010
Source: Skai.gr
“Συγκλονιστική η μαρτυρία του δημοσιογράφου του ΣΚΑΪ Άρη Χατζηστεφάνου που μετείχε στην αποστολή, για την αγριότητα των ισραηλινών δυνάμεων κατά τη διάρκεια της κράτησης και ανάκρισης των ακτιβιστών.”
“The shocking testimony of SKAI journalist Ari Hadjistefanou participant in the mission [Ship to Gaza], the brutality of the Israeli forces during detention and questioning of activists.”
MAG press release: Israel murders civilians
May 31, 2010

Gaza is bleeding and so are the people who support and love Gaza, but this time literally.
The Muslim Association of Greece highly condemns the hijacking of the unarmed freedom flotilla by the Israeli Navy in international waters. Thanks to the indifference of the world opinion, we were led to this bloody attack resulting in tragic deaths of passengers and dozens of other injured activists who were armed with nothing else but the sense of hope, justice, and the determination of a free Mediterranean.
We have actively participated since the beginning of the movement with plenty of tireless volunteers. The president, Naim Elghandour was on board of the cargo ship, Free Mediterranean, representing all of us.
People from every corner of the world, every age, ideology and status and religion have united for a just cause and now others are dead, others are wounded and some are prisoners. In the holds of the ship are dozens of electric wheelchairs for the disabled, prefabricated homes, desalination systems, building materials, and medical supplies which will never reach the receipts in Gaza who are in dire need.
Amongst the six ships of the “Freedom Flotilla” two Greek vessels and crews, the Free Mediterranean and Sfendoni were severely attacked in international waters as they also witnessed the bringing down of the Greek flag and its humiliation which is something that frightens us.
At least 4o Greek poeple are missing with Israel being the only one able to give us answers. Indeed, these are the very same poeple that killed so many civilians. How reliable can their data be and what is the fate of the hundreds activists?
The international community must act now because today civilians were killed while fighting in the name of liberty.
We express our sincerest condolences to the families of the victims, dead, wounded and prisoners and we dearly wish that one day Gaza will stop bleeding and the Mediterranean will be free.
——
Photo taken from aljazeera.net.
Egypt in Athens festival – highlights and photos
May 5, 2010
By Julie Jalloul
© Muslim Association of Greece
The highly anticipated festival, Egypt in Athens, took place on April 24 and 25, 2010 at Gazi. The festival, being the first of its kind in Greece, aimed at highlighting the depth of the overgrowing relationship that has brought Egypt and Greece together and closer for centuries especially in artistic, literary and traditional arenas.
Saturday morning of April 24th, during the informational zone, a conference was held in which well-established speakers discussed Egyptian folklore and literature. Also, they could not miss to mention the importance of the Egyptians living in Greece and Greeks living in Egypt – two very strong links which together create this special atmosphere in their relations.
Mr. Efthimios T. Soulogiannis, professor of history of Athens, presented the Greek writers of Egypt. Mr. George Economides, graduate from Cairo University in folklore and literature, took everyone back in time reminiscing his memories from old Alexandria, Ms. Persa Koumoutsi, an author and official translator of the famous Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz in Greece mentioned her point of view of the subject, and Christina Florou, an artist, spoke about art in ancient Greece and Egypt. Last, Nikos Nikitaridis, B’ vice president of Egyptian Greek league and Mohamed Rasad El Zafzaf emphasized the coexistence of the Egyptian and Greek communities.
In between these discussions a documentary was being screened entitled The Egypt of Greeks in History, which was produced by ERT national television.
In the afternoon, during the artistic zone, the well known movie Yacoubian Building was put on view by Marouan Hamendi. Based on the novel by the same title, the author Dr. Alaa El-Aswany does not shy away from weaving sordid tales of political corruption, sexuality and torture in his story. The film portrays all these elements through the lives of those who reside in the Yacoubian building, representing segments within the Egyptian society.
After that followed classical Arabic music concert by the band Al Mahabba creating a very warm and cheerful environment. Ayman Al Habachy, a famous Egyptian chef of Athens, closed the night leaving the visitors astonished by demonstrating live Egyptian delicatessens.
The event also included a zone dedicated to children which was operated at the Haridimos Shadow Theatre Museum inside the cultural center, Melina. Over the two days, individuals of all ages had the great opportunity to learn the secrets of creating shadow theatre characters and attend two performances named Karagiozis at Luna Park and Karagiozis the Baker by the S. Haridimos troupe. They also had the chance to learn about the traditional Egyptian puppet theatre and Aragoz, a traditional puppet in Egyptian popular culture, and the Egyptian shadow theatre techniques as well as attend two authentic Egyptian puppet theatre performances by top Egyptian artists, Nabil Mohamed Bahgat, Moustafa Osman Moustafa Osman and Aly Abu Zeid Souleiman.
This successful event was organized by the Intercultural Centre of Migration Service of City of Athens with the collaboration of the Muslim Association of Greece and the support of the Egyptian Cultural Center of Athens.
Update: obstructions again to the mosque and cemetery
April 25, 2010
Source: Ethnos.gr
© Translation Muslim Association of Greece
Translated by Elena Nikolova-Pouliasi

The subject that concerns the Muslims of Athens remains inactive and the construction of the mosque and cemetery still remain frozen despite the reassurance of the people responsible for that matter.
A deed between the Church and the State ‘for concession to use’ is the only thing that remains to be solved for the cemetery to start operating. The representatives of the Muslims say that the lack of coordination causes obstruction. The president of the Muslim Association of Greece, Mr. Naim Elghandour, expresses his concern while speaking with the ‘Ethnos’ newspaper.
Mr. Elghandour, on the topic of Shisto area, which was given by the Church of Greece and afterwards was considered inappropriate notes, “The proceedings are stuck again. We have received government reassurance that they are good intentions but again the issue is not proceeding. Last time we were told that we need to fill the space. We are willing voluntarily to take this project and fill the space!”
In Shisto, the Greek Church originally gave 30 acres of land for the cemetery, but the land was found inappropriate because it was bedrock and afterwards was given another land in the same area. Again the issue is not progressing.
“It is necessary to have several acres of land, as according to the Islamic religion three is digging, so it takes considerable space,” says Mr. Elghandour.
Moreover, to complete the process it is necessary to make an arrangement for the cemetery to be classified as inter-municipal, and therefore to be used by all Muslims in Athens.
However, the issue of the mosque seems to be frozen. Recently the move of the Navy base from Votanico was estimated to 2.5 million euros by the Ministry of Defence. In the same area of Votanicos there have been 17 acres in total allocated for the construction of the mosque.
According to reports, in a meeting held last Friday by the secretary of the Ministry of Education, Thalia Dragona, and the representatives of the Muslim Association of Greece, there were assurances regarding the government intention of the construction. But there we mentioned ‘bureaucratic reasons’ causing the obstruction.
“It is disappointing to know that the barriers for the construction are the lack of coordination between relevant institutions of the state,” says Mr. Elghandour to Ethnos newspaper who recalls that the relevant 15 million allocated have been disbursed.
According to those sources, the Muslims have pointed out another problem regarding an official Imam in Athens, preferably a university professor, who will call for prayer and teach the Quran in order to avoid any misinterpretations from people who have no formal approval or understanding. However, the Ministry of Education does not seem positively supportive to make such a decision.
In most cases, the dead are transported to Xanthi and Komotini.
Odyssey is the burrier of Muslims in Athens
The Muslim burial in Athens is an odyssey. In some cases the Egyptian Embassy of Athens takes responsibility to pay for the cost to transfer the body to Egypt. But in most cases the dead are transferred in Xanthi and Komitini where they are Islamic cemeteries to be buried, away from their families.
In Athens, on average of 10 Muslims die every month. The way that Muslims are buried is special, as the dead person is washed and taken care as a living body, then it is shrouded and buried in the ground without a coffin.
At least 30 spaces operate in Athens as informal mosques. In some cases they have been given penalty charges for the misuse of their premises. The prayer is performed by a Muslim with some Islamic knowledge, but there is no official imam. Sometimes they are recognised imams who visit Greece and perform prayers but that is done occasionally. There are two public prayers organised per year in Athens.
Friday Vonatsou
Επιταχύνεται η ανέγερση τζαμιού
April 25, 2010
Πηγή: Καθημερινή
Του Νικου Παπαχρηστου
Επιταχύνονται οι διαδικασίες για την ανέγερση ισλαμικού τεμένους στην Αθήνα. Οταν το έργο ολοκληρωθεί, θα αποτελέσει τον πρώτο επίσημο μουσουλμανικό χώρο προσευχής, ο οποίος θα λειτουργήσει στην πρωτεύουσα ύστερα από τουλάχιστον δύο αιώνες. Στις προθέσεις της κυβέρνησης, σύμφωνα με στελέχη της, είναι η αντιμετώπιση ενός κοινωνικού ζητήματος που αφορά χιλιάδες μουσουλμάνους, είτε Ελληνες είτε μετανάστες, που ζουν στο λεκανοπέδιο Αττικής.
Για τον σκοπό αυτό το τελευταίο διάστημα έχουν πυκνώσει οι συσκέψεις εκπροσώπων των εμπλεκόμενων φορέων, κατά τις οποίες εξετάζονται οι τελικές νομικές διευθετήσεις που αφορούν την παραχώρηση της έκτασης όπου θα ανεγερθεί το τζαμί των Αθηνών.
Υστερα από συνεννόηση του υπ. Παιδείας με τον Οργανισμό Ρυθμιστικού Σχεδίου Αθήνας, αποφασίστηκε το τέμενος να δημιουργηθεί στην περιοχή του Ελαιώνα και συγκεκριμένα στον Βοτανικό, σε έκταση 17 στρεμμάτων που θα παραχωρήσει το Γενικό Επιτελείο Ναυτικού. Στον χώρο αυτό σήμερα λειτουργούν εγκαταστάσεις του Κέντρου Συντήρησης Αυτοκινήτων Ναυτικού (ΚΣΑΝ), οι οποίες θα μετεγκατασταθούν εντός της υπόλοιπης έκτασης που διατηρεί το ΓΕΝ. «Η περιοχή αυτή επελέγη για να είναι προσβάσιμη στον λαό. Εμείς αντιλαμβανόμαστε τα κοινωνικά προβλήματα που αντιμετωπίζει η χώρα μας και θα κάνουμε ό,τι καλύτερο μπορούμε για να θέσουμε στη διάθεση του διάδοχου φορέα τη χρήση του χώρου, ώστε σύντομα να εξυπηρετηθούν οι συμπολίτες μας μουσουλμάνοι», δηλώνουν στην «Κ» υψηλόβαθμα στελέχη του Πολεμικού Ναυτικού.
Το ύψος της δαπάνης μετεγκατάστασης των υπηρεσιών του Πολεμικού Ναυτικού, που θα αναλάβει το υπ. Παιδείας, υπολογίζεται σε 2,5 εκατ. ευρώ, ενώ δεν υπάρχει ακόμα συγκεκριμένη εκτίμηση του τελικού συνολικού κόστους ανέγερσης του ισλαμικού τεμένους και της διαμόρφωσης του περιβάλλοντος χώρου. Ωστόσο τα έξοδα θα καλυφθούν από το Πρόγραμμα Δημοσίων Επενδύσεων.
Η ανέγερση του τεμένους θα γίνει σύμφωνα με τους όρους δόμησης του νόμου 3512/2006. Συνολική επιφάνεια του οικοδομήματος 840 τ.μ., είσοδος από την Ιερά Οδό, ενώ θα γειτονεύει με το παρεκκλήσιο του Αγ. Χριστοφόρου που ανήγειραν πριν από χρόνια οι υπάλληλοι των υπηρεσιών του Ναυτικού. «Στόχος είναι το τζαμί να ανεγερθεί από ελληνικές κατασκευαστικές εταιρείες», σημειώνουν κυβερνητικοί αξιωματούχοι και προσθέτουν: «Επιθυμία μας είναι να αντανακλά την ισλαμική θρησκευτική παράδοση και την αρμονική συνύπαρξή της με τους πολιτισμούς του μεσογειακού χώρου». Τους τελευταίους μήνες πολλαπλασιάζεται ο αριθμός των ανεπίσημων χώρων μουσουλμανικής λατρείας. Σύμφωνα με στοιχεία της «Κ», σε όλη τη χώρα -πλην Θράκης- λειτουργούν 75 ανεπίσημα τζαμιά έναντι 68 τον περασμένο Ιούνιο. Από αυτά, 61 βρίσκονται στην Αθήνα και απευθύνονται κυρίως σε σουνίτες, 23 δημιουργήθηκαν από Πακιστανούς και 15 από μετανάστες από το Μπανγκλαντές.
Παράλληλα, σύμφωνα με πληροφορίες, υπάρχουν ενδείξεις ότι μεταξύ των χιλιάδων μουσουλμάνων μεταναστών που έφθασαν στην Ελλάδα συμπεριλαμβάνονται πιστοί ακραίων ρευμάτων του Ισλάμ.
Κωλυσιεργία για τέμενος και κοιμητήριο
Βενιζέλος: Πάμε για συνολική μετεγκατάσταση του Ναυτικού από τον Βοτανικό
April 9, 2010
Πηγή: Ελευθεροτυπία
Τις λεπτομέρειες της προγραμματικής σύμβασης μεταξύ του υπουργείου Αμυνας και του Δήμου Αθηναίων για την ανέγερση τζαμιού στον Βοτανικό, σε έκταση του Πολεμικού Ναυτικού, έδωσε ο υπουργός Ευ. Βενιζέλος, απαντώντας γραπτώς σε ερώτηση 6 βουλευτών του ΛΑΟΣ. Χωρίς να αμφισβητεί την ουσία της συμφωνίας, το σχέδιο της οποίας διαμορφώθηκε από τον Ιούλιο του 2009, ο κ. Βενιζέλος έθεσε ωστόσο μια πρόσθετη προϋπόθεση για την υλοποίησή της.
Οπως αναφέρει, αμέσως μόλις ενημερώθηκε τον Ιανουάριο του 2010, ζήτησε να διερευνηθεί το ενδεχόμενο να μεταφερθούν συνολικά από τον χώρο του Βοτανικού οι εγκαταστάσεις του Πολεμικού Ναυτικού (και όχι μόνο τής υπό παραχώρησιν έκτασης των 17 στρεμμάτων) σε άλλο σημείο, εφόσον το υπουργείο Παιδείας, Διά Βίου Μάθησης και Θρησκευμάτων ή ο Δήμος Αθηναίων είναι σε θέση να αναλάβουν το κόστος!
Η αρχική συμφωνία προέβλεπε την ανέγερση του τζαμιού (με παραχώρηση και αποδέσμευση των 17 στρεμμάτων) σε μεσαίο τμήμα της έκτασης, που αποκαλείται «Ναυτικό Οχυρό Βοτανικού». Η νέα παρέμβαση Βενιζέλου για πιθανή αναζήτηση συνολικής μεταφοράς των εγκαταστάσεων (και όχι μόνο του μεσαίου τμήματός της) είναι δυνατόν να ανατρέψει τα δεδομένα.
Η εξέλιξη αυτή (που ίσως οφείλεται και στις αντιδράσεις για τη στενή γειτνίαση του τεμένους με εγκαταστάσεις οι οποίες ανήκουν στο Πολεμικό Ναυτικό), μπορεί να οδηγήσει σε νέες καθυστερήσεις. Ιδίως εάν δεν βρεθούν άμεσα τα απαραίτητα κονδύλια από το υπουργείο Παιδείας ή τον Δήμο Αθηναίων.
Σύμφωνα με το σχέδιο του δημάρχου Αθηναίων Ν. Κακλαμάνη, το υπουργείο Οικονομικών θα διαθέσει 2.500.000 ευρώ στο ΓΕΝ για την κατασκευή των νέων κτιρίων που θα φύγουν από το μεσαίο -υπό παραχώρηση- κομμάτι της έκτασης. Προβλέπει ακόμη αποχαρακτηρισμό της έκτασης των 17 στρεμμάτων και παράλληλη εκκίνηση διαγωνισμού για τη μεταφορά των δραστηριοτήτων του Πολεμικού Ναυτικού. Η παράμετρος Βενιζέλου για μεταφορά του συνόλου των εγκαταστάσεων αναμένεται να αυξήσει κατά πολύ το κόστος αυτό (2,5 εκατ. ευρώ).
ΧΡΗ.ΖΕ
Άλλα δημοσιεύματα
Δελτίο Τύπου για τον εμπρησμό στο Ηράκλειο Κρήτης
April 4, 2010
Με λύπη μας στέλνουμε αυτό εδώ το δελτίο τύπου για να καταγγείλουμε την εγκληματική ενέργεια με γκαζάκια κατά των γραφείων του Πνευματικού και Πολιτιστικού Συνδέσμου “Αλληλεγγύης και Ειρήνης των Αράβων” που χρησιμοποιείται και ως λατρευτικός χώρος όπως ορίζει το καταστατικό τους, στα Καμίνια Ηρακλείου Κρήτης. Πρόκειται για μία άνανδρη επίθεση άκρατου ρατσισμού κατά θρησκεύματος αλλά και κατά έθνους. Είναι βέβαια απόρροια της όλης της εκστρατείας σπίλωσης των πιστών μίας παγκόσμιας θρησκείας 1,8 δισεκατομμυρίων πιστών που αβασάνιστα έγινε τον τελευταίο καιρό στη χώρα μας με αφορμή το νόμο για τους μετανάστες δεύτερης γενιάς για λόγους εντυπωσιασμού.
Και βρισκόμαστε εδώ να κινδυνεύουμε επειδή έχουμε Μουσουλμανικό θρήσκευμα από ανώνυμους που δρουν ανενόχλητοι. Χτες ανατίναξαν ένα παιδί πρόσφυγα από το Αφγανιστάν με την αδερφή του, σήμερα ανατίναξαν ένα νόμιμο σύλλογο και χώρο προσευχής των Μουσουλμάνων του Ηρακλείου, που απαρτίζεται από νόμιμους και μόνιμους πολίτες. Η τυφλή βία από όποια ιδεολογία και αν προέρχεται εξυπηρετεί τα ίδια συμφέροντα. Τον εκφοβισμό και τον εξευτελισμό, τον αποκλεισμό ορισμένων πολιτών της Ελλάδας. Και η κοινωνία μένει πάντα σιωπηλή αφού δεν είναι όλες οι κρίσεις πρόσφορες προς πολιτική εκμετάλλευση. Και η Πολιτεία εξακολουθεί να καθυστερεί την δημιουργία επίσημων υποδομών για τους Μουσουλμάνους αποδεικνύοντας ότι θα πρέπει να καούν περισσότεροι Μουσουλμάνοι ώστε να σκύψουν στις αγωνιώδεις εκκλήσεις μας.
Εμείς η Μουσουλμανική Ένωση Ελλάδας καταδικάζουμε με όλη μας τη δύναμη τέτοιες ενέργειες που δεν τιμούν τη χώρα και την ιστορία μας, και ελπίζουμε ότι η κοινωνία θα αρχίσει να αντιδρά σε τέτοια φαινόμενα τυφλής βίας και θα στηρίξει τους Άραβες συνανθρώπους που πλήγησαν ηθικά ώστε να εξακολουθούμε συνυπάρχουμε αρμονικά χωρίς διακρίσεις βάσει θρησκεύματος στην Ελλάδα του Πολιτισμού.
Επίσης καλούμε τους Μουσουλμάνους της χώρας να κατανοήσουν ότι το γεγονός αυτό προήλθε από μια συγκεκριμένη ομάδα μίσους και δεν εκπροσωπεί την ευρύτερη κοινωνία που δεν συμφωνεί με τέτοιες ενέργειες. Πρέπει οι αρετές της πίστης μας να πρυτανεύσουν, να δείξουν τη δύναμή τους στην υπομονή, όπως έπραξαν οι αδελφοί στην Κρήτη κατόπιν παραινέσεως της Μουσουλμανικής Ένωσης Ελλάδας και επέδειξαν μεγαλοψυχία και ήθος, επισκευάζοντας ταχύτατα τις ζημιές και τελώντας την προσευχή της Παρασκευής κανονικότατα.
Ευχαριστούμε θερμά.














