Athens: A festive Ramadan evening (with photo gallery)

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Last Thursday September 2, the formal Iftar dinner of MAG took place at Ledra Marriott hotel. Over a hundred guests participated at an Iftar of the Muslims of Athens.

The evening begun with the break of the fast, and the Maghreb (evening) prayer. After that, salutations came from the chairman Naim Elghandour, the rep of the Hellenic Church father Stefanos Alexopoulos and professor Vangelis Pissias.

At the Iftar were participating from the Ministry of Education the deputy minister Mr. Panaretos, Mrs. Dragona, Mr. Marioras, Mrs. Faragoulitaki. From the ministry of Protection of the Citizen were the deputy Chief of Pollice mr. Rahovitsas, Head of State Security Mr Dikopoulos, Attica Chief Mr Balakos, and other important people from the ministry. From the ministry of foreign affairs was Mr. Takis, from the City of Athens was the deputy mayor Mr. Papadakis and councellor Ms Jarvis. New Democracy party was represented by Ms Elsa Papadimitriou, Syriza party by Mr Dritsas and Ecologists by Ms Kontouli. Many diplomats as the ambassador of France, ambassador of Indonesia, ambassador of Syria, deputy ambassadors of UK, Egypt and other officials from all Muslim embassies. Significant businessmen, academics, journalists, people of arts, friends, imams special guests from Egypt, and reps from the initiative “ship to Gaza” were all there at this glowing evening.

Sponsors of the event were the companies Visiotec & Loukisas Cladding, of Mr’s Dalamangos. Hytiris and Loukisas that are specialized at the security doors of the banks

The atmosphere was warm and friendly and tasting the fine food, soon there were several tables with different discussion topics. The sense of the harmonious coexistence and mutual respect was the big message of the event and all together proved it beyond any doubt, renewing the appointment for the next year’s Iftar, having the best impressions.

See Photo Gallery here

Patriarch: ready to turn to the European court for human rights

Source:  Skai.gr

Translated © Greeks Rethink

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An interview of Ecumenical Patriarch for a Turkish newspaper

“[I am] determined to drive the case of Theological School of Halki to the European Court of Human Rights,” states to an interview for a Turkish newspaper, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Mr. Bartholomew repeats to “Haber Turk” that the patriarchy wishes to operate the school again as it used to reminding that the two latest ministers of Education of Turkey have stated that there is no legal obstacle for its re-opening.

“If by the end of the year there is not any development for the Halki issue then we will exhaust all legal measures in Turkey and go to the European Court,” he states.

In the same interview, Mr. Bartholomew reveals the content of a recent conversation with Turkish Prime Minister Rejeb Tayib Erdogan. Most likely he referred to what they discussed last August at Pringipos when Mr. Erdogan visited the Monastery of Saint George Koudounas and the wooden building of the orphanage where he was welcomed by the Patriarch.

At this discussion Mr. Bartholomew asked the re-opening of the Theological School and the reply of Mr. Erdogan was that “in Athens there is no mosque”.

The Ecumenical Patriarch replied to him that this is not his responsibility on this specific issue and that he would not object with the existence of a praying place for the Muslims that live in Athens.

“We paid the consequences of the Tukish-Greek relations and of Cypriot Issue. We are citizens of this country and we want our rights” said between others the Ecumenical Patriarch.

The Attica Islamic temenos: Speech of Minister Mr Sgouridis

In Greek/ Στα Ελληνικα

The following video is the speech of the minister  of Xanthi, Mr Sgouridis in The Greek Commons in 2007.

The speech is with reference to the Islamic mosque and cemetery in Attica or rather the absence of them.

Mr Sgouridis is  resident of Xanthi and as such makes an  attempt of trying to understand issues of the Muslim communities and especially the worship and burial problems that the Muslims of Attica encounter due to the absence of the Islamic Mosque and islamic Cemetery.

Mr Sgouridis outlines his own  objections towards the current legislation concerning the Muslim temenos in Attica and he forwards his own opinions and the reasons why this current legislation should be withdrawn and replaced.