Greek Muslims in Kuwait

By Gerasimos Loukatos

It was the first time  I heard the adhan (call to prayer) from my room’s half-open window. No compass needed since the arrow on the ceiling is already pointing the direction to Mecca. The small colorful carpet for the guests and access to water was everything I needed to perform my five daily prayers..

The second Kuwaiti European Convention was held at The Regency Hotel and hosted by the Islamic Presentation Committee (IPC). The aim of the convention was to provide European Islamic organizations with top-level knowledge in leadership and communication.

Lectures were delivered from scholars and practitioners, famous in the Muslim world such as Dr. Tareq Al Suwaidan, public speaker, author and expert in management and Dr. Moosa Al-Jowaiser, consultant and expert in psychology and personality types. Mahmoud  Al Saify Phd researcher in Islamology, Dr. Abdullah Hakim Quick historian and ShaikhMuhammad Alshareef founder and president of Al Maghrib Institute almost completed the 2-week program of the convention.

Among the lecturers was Iman Sotiria Kouvalis, founder of Greeksrethink, expert in Strategic and Operational planning and author of the groundbreaking program “10 steps forward” and how to build an Olympic-level organization.

Muslim Association of Greece’s delegation was able to meet with participants from other organizations from Holland, Sweden and Norway and exchanged ideas and valuable information.

Side activities included visiting a dessert farm, the Cultural center, the Grand Mosque and several excursions to the streets of Kuwait city. It should be noted that Kuwait is example of a country where East meets the West, where the Imam’s call to prayer is heard in view of a decorated Christmas tree and people of different cultural and religious background live together in harmony.

Finally, in a well-meant competition the Greek team won the prize for an outstanding overall performance during the convention and for the best presentation of project as per following link:

Euphoria Video

Enjoy the Photo Gallery

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Hate…

Source:  Enet.gr

© Translation: Muslim Association of Greece

Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά

The argumentation of the LAOS deputy, A. Georgiadis against the construction of the Mosque in Athens, yesterday in the Greek Parliament, reminded the well known Greek saying “Gypsies were happy to meet each other.”

Fortunately the deputy did not ask, at least directly, to deport all the Muslim inhabitants, as apparently he realised that many of them are needed to our society and economy. Though, he asked to banish the construction of the Mosque. To make a long story short, if we treated them as slaves without any rights, and foremost without any religious rights or in the best case scenario if we established Mosques without minarets (something like a church without a dome, steeple and Altar) the LAOS party would be delighted.

By pushing himself one step backwards, the deputy literally suggested to grant them permission for a lair. Great supporter of racist stands, G. Karatzferi’s deputy was not even daunted by the surrogate Minister of Defence P.Mpeglitis, who highlighted to him the fact that we are the only country of European Union that does not have a Mosque for the Muslim Greek nationals and the visitors, that does not serve our country’s best interest to encourage an extremist and xenophobic ambiance and that the uncontrollable, spread all over Mosques are by far worse.

Obviously he forgets that hate brings back more hate, especially during heavy recession.

Translated by: Myrto Zacharof

I am torn between choosing Islam and my Greek family

I received this comment today and I wanted to post it here so that you can respond to Vasili.  Many of us can relate to this part of the journey.

 

 

I am currently Greek Orthodox Christian and it is sad how even the Orthodox Church is becoming westernized. Women and men should still stand on opposite sides in church, the women should still cover their heads in church, the men should not be wearing gold chains and/or ripped jeans, among many other things. Its starting to look like a Catholic Church. Going to church has become a status competition in the Greek Community. So many Greeks go to church to gossip and show off their wealth. Its ridiculous. Its not even about God any more. I would say the most devout Eastern Orthodox I know are my Coptic Egyptian friends.

This is why recently I have been researching about Islam. I have quite a few Muslim friends because culturally as Greek I can relate to them more than an American. Even if I did choose to convert, it would be a very hard transition and it would completely change my relationship with my family. I am afraid they would frown upon me becoming Muslim and I am worried I would have a hard time adjusting to the lifestyle of Islam. I don’t know what to think any more. In my opinion, if you are going to be Christian, Eastern Orthodoxy is best, only if you follow the doctrine and traditions, which are being diluted in today’s society. I have respect for both Islam and Christianity, and honestly if I could follow both faiths I would; but the Islamic faith seems to most consistently practice the traditional, conservative, and respectful way of life that Allah has intend us to follow.

-Vasili

I felt ashamed to ask questions but it led me to Islam

 Διαβαστε στα Ελληνικά

By Iman Sotiria Kouvalis

I remember seeing Muslim women at my university and feeling sorry for them.  I didn’t know them but when we crossed paths at the cafeteria, I smiled at them because I thought they were oppressed.  I never talked with them but I just assumed that they were forced to wear the veil.

It’s funny that I thought this way because I knew nothing about Islam.  I mean nothing.  I actually thought that everyone in the world were Christians!  Remember, this was about 10 years ago (before 9/11).

But, my interaction with many Muslims made me reflect on my own disconnect with God and the Church.  Although I was raised in a typical Greek Orthodox family and attended church every Sunday for most of my life, as I grew older, church no longer had meaning in my life and there were a lot of questions that couldn’t be answered by the Church.

As I grew older, a dichotomy started to appear where life and religion were drifting to opposite sides.  I couldn’t see how I can make religion relevant to my daily life.  On the one hand, we were raised to think that in order to be successful, we have to go to school, get a good job and buy a nice house and car and on the other hand, we were taught all we had to do is believe that Jesus died for our sins and we would be saved to be successful. On this side, we were taught to always think critically, to question why, to negotiate and on the other side, we were taught to just believe and never question or it would be like blasphemy.  On this side, never do anything unless you know why and on the other side, perform all the rituals and never ask why. 

And that’s how I started to drift away from the Church.  It had no meaning anymore.  I always believed in God and I desperately wanted Him to be part of my life but I had questions.  And I was made to feel ashamed that I had questions. As if I was being a disobedient person.

So my only solution was to be away from the Church because I didn’t want to be seen as disobedient and at the end of they day, I was going to heaven anyway according to Christianity as long as I believed that Jesus died for my sins, it didn’t matter anyway.  I could do anything and get away with it.

But my interactions with Muslims in university years later and seeing how spiritual they were reignited my passion to become close to God again.  I guess you could say deep down I was a little jealous.  How were they so devoted and at peace and I wasn’t even though I was going to heaven and they were not?

I started getting into religious debates with them.  I was determined to convince them that they need to accept Jesus in order to be saved.  But to my surprise, they already believed in Jesus!  I started figuring out that they know a great deal about Islam and Christianity where I know next to nothing about Islam and even Christianity even though I attended Sunday school all my life.

Secretly, when no one was looking, I went to the library to read about Islam in order to convince them that they were wrong.  I only found some really weird and old books.  Remember, this was pre-Google days so there wasn’t that much on the internet either.  One day, I was walking down one of the university halls when I saw some pocket pamphlets on the wall about Islam.  I guess the Muslim Student Association put them there so after I made sure that the hall was empty, I quickly slipped a few of them in my bag.  When I got home, I started reading and was amazed.  One pamphlet even talked about Muhammad in the Bible.  The Bible?  I thought this must be a lie!  But I checked the verse in my Bible, and I didn’t know if it was true or not because I was just reading a translation in English.

I made a sincere prayer to God to show me which religion is the truth.  I wanted to know!  I surprised myself though that I did that because I kept saying, of course, Christianity!  I started attending church every week again, and then twice a week.  This was very strange because I was practically the only young person there.  I started reading the Bible again but this time in order to find answers to my questions.

After months of this, I couldn’t take it anymore and I decided to go to my priest.  Now, anyone who is Greek can understand what a big event this is.  I’m going to my priest to admit that I have questions in my faith and also to ask about the worst enemy of the Greeks: Islam.  My questions were three: 

1. If Jesus died for our sins and we only have to believe this to be saved and go to heaven, then how does that make sense?  That means I can commit any sin and be saved?
2. How can God be 3 in 1?
3. What do you think about Islam?

For the first two questions, he tried his best to explain but it was clear to me that there was a lot of ambiguity in his answers.  When we got to the third question, his eyes bulged out and his skin turned a little red and he told me to just stay away from those people!

I left the meeting disappointed. For the first time, it caused a definite crack in my faith.  I needed to find answers!  But now I was on my own to find them.  And I did.

After more months of intense reading, critical study of both religions and a persistent nagging of my soul to keep searching for God, the truth started coming to me, but I kept fighting it.  I kept telling it to go away.  I am Greek.  I am Orthodox.  I love my lifestyle.  I don’t want to give up everything I was raised upon.  But, in the end, it won.  I submitted to my conscience.  I submitted to the truth and declared that there is no object worthy of worship except God.  Because that’s literally what the word “Islam” means.

Later, I started to realize that I don’t have to give up myself, my family or my culture.  I realized that I can be Muslim and also be Greek, just like so many others around the world who are Muslim but also Pakistani, Arab, Somalian, Bosnian, Chinese or many other cultures.  And in the Quran, I read:

“They are not [all] the same; among the People of the Scripture [i.e. Jews and Christians] is a community standing [in obedience], reciting the verses of Allah during periods of the night and prostrating [in prayer]. They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and hasten to good deeds. And those are among the righteous. And whatever good they do – never will it be removed from them. And Allah is Knowing of the righteous.”  (Quran 3:113-115)

I understood that as Muslims we are to respect people of other faiths for some of them are really sincere and they live God-conscious lives.  In the end, it’s not me who will judge people, only God can do that.

I came to Islam through books.  Through a critical and intense study just like so many other converts to Islam and just like so many other Greek converts to Islam.  And I noticed that my story is not unique.  So many other Greeks that I know today have similar questions as me and the same dichotomy in their lives.  If you are in this situation, you owe it to yourself to find the answers now because we don’t know when we will die.  And to know that God gave us a mind to think critically.  It’s ok to ask questions and it’s ok to find answers.

That is why I started a website called Greeks Rethink.  It’s a website where you can ask questions and find answers about life and God.  You can go to www.greeksrethink.com and read about our stories and our lives or go onto the forums directly and interact with other rethinkers around the world.

New Greek Muslim needs your advice

This came in through our old blog site.  Can you give her some advice?

 

My name is Aisha(19 years old) and I am Greek currently living in Czech Republic for my studies. When I was in Greece i had no idea about Islam, due to the lack of information about it in Greece. I just thought that it is a religion for Arabs… However Allah gave me the opportunity to see this beautiful way of life in Czech Republic.

As most of the Greeks understand being a muslim in Greece is not very common. In about 1 month i will go back to Greece and i will have to face my Christian parents. Although they are not very religious, they don’t go to church except Easter and Christmas and sometimes not even then, the idea of having a different religion from the rest of my family (and the rest of the Greek citizens) and the idea that i will make it so obvious by wearing the hijab will not give a very good reaction according to their behaviour…

I would appreciate it a lot if you could give me some advise on how to talk to them and what to tell them because they don’t know anything for islam except that it is a religion that people from Pakistan that live in the city center,where most of violence occurs in Athens. May Allah help me and make it easy for me.

Moreover, showing off in Greece is something that I use to do but i find it meaningless anymore. Girls nowdays in Greece have lost their mind and walk almost naked in the street,driving the attention of every female person that passes next to them.

However this is something very common, but wearing the hijab isn’t.. I don’t know what my non-muslim friends will be with the idea of going out with a girl that covers her body… Iknow them since i was a little child and they will understand but i will have to explain them in the right way… do you have any suggestions?

Even a very small advice might be very usefull for me so please help a new muslim girl that needs your help.  please take in consideration that i reverted to islam 2 weeks ago

The following text is for muslim women:

In Czech Republic like in Greece there are not a lot of muslims especially girls. Can you please send me a few basic information about basic things concerning the islam?

not for the social life but the every day life and things that muslim gilrs do!

Peace be upon all of you!!

Thanks to all of you spending time even reading about my story.

ALL PRAISES BE TO ALLAH!

Salam!

MAG press release: Israel murders civilians

Διαβαστε στα Ελληνικά

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.

Mosque designed by Greeks

I was told that the Bin Madiya Mosque in Al Nasser Square in Dubai is built by a Greek architect firm, www.meletitiki.gr.  Although it was built in 1990, its style is contemporary and different from the classical design you would normally think of. 

Actually, that’s why I like it.  It’s pretty cool.

 

 

Photos are taken from www.meletitiki.gr.

 

Finally, the mosque! (memoir of a Greek Muslim)

Source:  Protagon.gr

© Translation: Muslim Association of Greece

Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά

by Gerasimos Loukatos

As a Greek, I learned to be proud for the country I was born and raised in, the cradle of democracy and of a great civilization that our ancestors established. As a Muslim, I met another great civilization whose achievements benefit humanity but are known only by a few.

When joining the team of the Muslim Association of Greece, on the road to our meetings with officials of the Ministry of Education, I had doubts about the outcome. The mosque should have stood upright since 2004 so what could change after six years?

To my great surprise, I met people there that showed a sincere interest for the thousands of Muslims that have no official place to pray and they feel isolated. For all those who do not find the guidance of an acknowledged imam when they need it, and for those who cannot be buried to the country that they were born in, raised or spent most of their lives in.

With great joy, I read about the announcement of the Minister of Education for the immediate construction of the Islamic mosque, not only because there will be an official place for me to pray but for the guidance I need as a new Muslim. I am also happy because this is an action in the right direction that is in harmony with the ideals of democracy. An action that I do not read in a history book but in articles that talk about tomorrow!

I am as much Greek as a Muslim and those who know Islam in depth know that this is the middle way. It is no more than the famous saying ‘Metron Ariston’ [free translation all in good measure], applied in every aspect of Muslim’s life.

In the middle of this crisis, maybe the necessary changes shall succeed that will lead to a harmonious coexistence and equal rights and obligations, no matter what religion, beliefs or other factors. The only negative point is the inadequate capacity that comes from the statements of the officials for the mosque and the future problems they might occur.

The steps to the right direction could be more correct if the ‘future’ factor was considered into the equation.

*Gerasimos Loukatos is member of the Muslim Association of Greece

Translated by Anna Stamou

April 24/25: Egypt in Athens Festival

PRESS RELEASE

Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά

We are very pleased to invite you to the ‘Egypt in Athens’ festival organised by the Intercultural Centre of Immigration Service of the municipality of Athens in cooperation with the Muslim Association of Greece with the support of the Cultural Centre of the Egyptian Embassy in Athens.

The festival will be held in the amphitheatre of the radio station Athens 9.84, Peiraios 100 in Gazi on Saturday 24 April 2010.

The festival is under the auspices of the Cultural Centre of Egypt, the Embassy of Egypt and the Egyptian Community in Athens.

During the events, the visitors will have the opportunity to taste the Egyptian culture and in particular discover the common elements between Greece and Egypt. The festival includes three parts: information, art and children.

In the morning during the informative session of the festival, the visitors will have the opportunity to attend a conference with the subject of Egyptian folklore, literature and the coexistence of the Hellenic and Egyptian community with guest speakers. Also a documentary of ERT with the title Egypt of Greeks in the Area of History will be shown.

The afternoon’s artistic events will begin with the projection of the film The Yacoubian Building of Marouan Hamendi.  The chef Aymal El Habachy will demonstrate live Egyptian delicatessens.  There will be a concert featuring the traditional Arab music with of the Al Mahabba band.

Reception will follow.

 

On the 24^th and 25^th of April there will be a children’s area

In the Shadow Theatre Museum Haridimos (Melina Cultural Centre of the municipality of Athens), Iraklidon 66 and Thessalonikis, Thiseio hours 14.00-17.00.  During the two days, spectators of all ages will have the opportunity to learn the secrets of shadow theatre figures, to watch two  performances, Karagiozis in the Amusement Park and Karagiozis Baker, by the group of S. Haradimou, learn about the traditional Egyptian puppet and Aragoz and to watch two original puppet performances by Egyptian artists Nabil Mohamed Bahgat, Moustafa Osman Moustafa Osman and Aly Abu Zeid Souleiman, a courtesy of the Ministry of Culture of Egypt in cooperation with the Cultural Centre of the Egyptian Embassy in Athens.

The entry for the public is free

As supporters are involved, the Cultural Organization of the Municipality of Athens, ΄Technopolis΄ of the municipality of Athens. Communication sponsors include the radio station Athens 9,84 and the foreign language radio station of the municipality of Athens Air 104.4 FM which broadcasts in 16 languages.

For more information please contact the Intercultural Centre of Immigration Service of the Municipality of Athens at 210-5225284.

Kuwaiti European convention – photo gallery included

Διαβάστε στα Eλληνικά  

European Muslims, including the Greek team representing the Muslim Association of Greece, participated in a significant grand convention in Kuwait from February 27 to March 11, 2010 organized by the Islam Presentation Committee at the Kuwait Regency Hotel to educate Muslim converts and give them ways they can benefit their communities and societies they live in.

Famous speakers from several countries and from Kuwait as well came to give us their expertise each one at his field. During the two weeks, Europeans from several countries (UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden and Greece) had the opportunity to study but also be in contact with the Kuwaiti society and its structure through many enriching activities and field trips.

We visited universities, youth centers, discussion centers, school activities centers, centers for education of the foreigners of Kuwait and we realized the great emphasis  that was on education and that explains the spiritual growth of their society.

We had the honor to meet people that we normally study their books and DVDs, people that normally would be impossible to meet all together, but this happened thanks to the fine organizing.

The famous Tareq Suwaidan was with us and gave a magnificent lecture. The director of Bridges Foundation and member of International Union of Muslim Scholars, Fadel Soliman, came for a very significant two-day course.

Sheikh Sultan Bilam,  a famous lecturer from Bahrain, Dr. Musa Al Jowaiser from Kuwait, en expert on Psychology, Amal Abdulwahid from Kuwait, the coordinator of the entire project presented also a important course, Ahmed Al Mutawa lecturer from Kuwait, Sheikh Mohammed Daniel who also lives in Kuwait, Ebrahim Adsani general manager of the intercultural “Aware Center”, the accomplished lawyer Athari Al Abdaly, analyzing legal matters and in the end Faisal Al Zamil, chairman of IPC that organized the convention.

We visited magnificent mosques, warm houses with big families and the desert with the farms full of plants and animals.  Actually, Dr. Jassem Al Mutawa, sheikh, author of tens of books and director of Iqraa satellite channel, gave us an inspirational tour at his impressive biological farm.

We saw the traditional markets and the modern malls –same as in our countries – but above all we saw the warm hearts and the hospitality of every person, and you cannot compare this to any riches or luxuries.

The president of the Kuwait parliament was the one who honored us at the closing by presenting us our certificates.

The organizers wanted to give to the participants a real taste of the way of life in Kuwait along with the high quality education and they accomplished that. Everyone left with the best impressions looking forward to the next convention.

More media coverage:

Al-Anba

Arabic news coverage

Islam.gov.kw

Alaan

 

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