In Votaniko, the mosque! (in-depth report)

Source:  Expresso

© Translation: Muslim Association of Greece

Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά

And the name…Votanikos! This is the name of the location that the first Islamic mosque of Athens will be constructed, after the decision of the government to proceed applying the law of 2006 and to satisfy a permanent claim for the Muslim community [in Greece].

After negotiations between the City of Athens and the related ministries of Education and National Defence, the government judged the most suitable place for the construction of the mosque to be a part of the field that occupies the Navy Entrenchment of Votanikos. The land has 17 acres and is located where the current Central Station of Navy Cars is.

The first mosque of Athens will be located at Iera Odos, a few hundred metres from Markoni Street and the Eleonas metro station. There exists several home trade businesses, car sales, and construction material in this area and it is diminished by the passing of heavy vehicles. However it is almost certain that in a few years the picture will be totally different, as the new stadium of Panathinaikos will be constructed nearby along with plans to widen  the streets of this area.

According to the existing plan, the entrance of the mosque will be from Iera Odos. The construction will have a capacity of about five hundred persons and will “be included in a wider open green area,” as announced the government spokesman George Petalotis, but it will not have a minaret. As far as the Station of Navy Cars is concerned, it will be relocated to another place of the Navy Entrenchment of Votanikos.

The president of the Muslim Association of Greece, Naim Elghandour, is satisfied with the developments and emphasizes that the mosque is essential for the thousands of foreigners but also for the Greeks, as he says – Muslims that live in Athens. At the same time, he promised that when the mosque starts operating, most of the unofficial praying places that exist today at the capital will close.

“The Muslims are praying in warehouses and underground garages. This is not right and it does not suit to our civilization,” says Mr. Elghandour and states that the Association “will go forward to close,” those praying places that are located today at areas that will be accommodated by the Votanikos Mosque.

Mr. Elghandour has an Egyptian origin but has Hellenic nationality and has served in the Greek Army. In a way, he considers those developments his achievement and the Association’s, since, as he states, by their letter to the Minister of Education Marietta Giannakou in 2006, they began the procedures for the voting of the relative law, and with a recent letter to the present Minister of National Defence, Evangelos Venizelos, ‘unsticking’ the case that was frozen for a long time.

“We proposed to be a Hellenic mosque, in the terms that no foreign country is to put money so that they will not have the upper hand,” refers the president of the Muslim Association of Greece and adds that they do not want the mosque “to be something huge and attract attention negatively.”

As far as the imam is concerned, Mr. Elghandour asks the Ministry of Education to choose one of those that the Association will propose. “We want him to be active, strong and educated in order to gather the people around him and teach them the correct Islam,” says characteristically. “There is no extreme Islam – these are politics. Islam is a religion of peace, love and beneficial to the society, just as we Muslims in Greece live. We love, respect and defend it,” he underlines.

However Mr. Elghandour does not hide his disappointment for the fact that the mosque will not have a minaret, while he sees the capacity of 500 people very little. “They should think about it. We had proposed to the Ministry of Education [for the mosque] to be 2500m², and to have two floors in order to accommodate 2500 persons,” he ends up.  

“With State Funds”

The construction will be based to the law 3512/2006 where describes the establishment of a legal body of private law under the name “Administrating Committee of Islamic Mosque of Athens” and its work will be the management of the mosque. The administration of the mosque will have the Greek State since the 7-member board of the committee will be consisted by the general director of religions of the Ministry of Education, a general director of Finance ministry, two reps of the City of Athens, a consultant that will be assigned by the Athens Academy and two representatives of Muslims that live in Attica. At the mosque, there will be an imam that will be assigned by the Minister of Education and will have a two year contract and his duties will be “limited in the responsibility for the internal operation of the mosque.”

For the time being there is no evaluation for the whole cost of the construction. As Mr. Petalotis announced, “the project will be executed with Greek funds by the Program of Public Expenditure Fund, and offers from foreign factors, governmental or not, will not be accepted.” According to the law 3512/2006, the operation costs of the mosque will be covered by the funding of the Ministry of Education but also from endowments, donations and every kind of offers of natural or legal faces.

 

By: Stathis Deligiorgis

Photos: William Faithful

Translated by Anna Stamou

Green light for mosque in Athens

Source: Ethnos

© Translation: Muslim Association of Greece

Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά

Fifteen days before the arrival of the Turkish Prime Minister T. Erdogan in Athens, the Greek parliament hasted yesterday to announce the “direct building of the Mosque in Athens” officially, an issue that Mr. Erdogan has, repeatedly and systematically, raised in the past years, claiming the role of “protector” of all Muslims who reside and work in Greece. 

This hasty announcement of the parliament raises many questions, since, though correct at its base, creates negative impressions regarding the time chosen for the announcement of the building of the mosque, since it will be regarded as pleasing the firm demand of Mr. Erdogan which he raised systematically without any legalization.

The Islamic temple will be built in Votanikos, though, as it seems, without the traditional tall minaret.

The Minister of Education, Anna Diamandopoulou, made the relative announcement yesterday, during the Cabinet.  While in an announcement by the government spokesman Giorgos Petalotis, it is noted that the building will be immediate, the mosque will have a capacity of approximately 500 individuals, it will be built on part of the land where the Navy Fort is, in a way that it will be organically integrated into a wider green environment.

Also, a seven-member board is being appointed, of whom, two are proposed by recognized, reputable Muslim societies, while five are Greek civil servants.

Asked by “Ethnos” about the developments and mainly the fact that the mosque would not have a minaret, the president of the Muslim Association of Greece, Mr. Naim Elghandour, said, “We said from the beginning that we do not want to get in dissociation with the Church and we told them that the mosque will not be alienated from the local architecture. Actually, in our discussions with the relevant bodies, we showed them pictures from the Mosque in Granada which resembles the architecture of Christian churches.”

Paraskevi Vonatsou

Translated by Amir Arvanitis

20 questions: Greeks, Muslims and racism

Source:  Ta Nea Newspaper

Translation © Greeks Rethink

Board Member of the Muslim Association of Greece, Iman Sotiria Kouvalis is Greek and embraced Islam in 2000, following studies in comparative religion. She is the founder of www.greeksrethink.com, the only meeting on line place of Greek Muslims everywhere, as well as those who are interested to know a little more about Greek Muslims and get possible questions answered.

Question 1: How serious is it for a Muslim to rip the Qur’an?

When someone rips the Qur’an, it shows disrespect to the sanctity of God.

Question 2: Do you justify the reaction of the Muslims?

The best way to resolve this matter is through the courts of justice and this is the path we will follow. As for those who react violently, this is contrary to our concept of religion and humanity.

Question 3: Was it politically motivated?

Political groups used isolated pockets of the most distressed immigrants to demonstrate in favour of broader problems, not just the ripped Qur’an.

Question 4: Did these political groups respect the Muslims of Athens?

Just a few immigrants came out with their supporters in the missed march, blackening the image of 10’s of thousands of Muslims who are either Greek citizens or are harmoniously intergrated in the Greek society.

Question 5: Did the Greek authorities respect the Muslims?

In general, they respect the Muslims. The incident with the Qur’an was something that had never happened before, nor was the police officer aware at that time of the seriousness of his action.

Question 6: How can the attack on the Qur’an be repaired?

The police could and still can issue a formal apology to the Muslims of Greece for their error.

Question 7: Are there Muslims who believe the incident was a “war against Islam.”

Any Muslim who tries to act as such on his own accord will be condemned by the majority of Muslims worldwide.

Question 8: How many Muslims live in Greece?

More than 1 million.

Question 9: How many Greeks are Muslims?

Apart from the Greek minority in Thrace, there are many Greeks who have embraced Islam and are either living in Greece or abroad.

Question 10: Why did a Christian woman embrace Islam?

Many Greek women accept islam and they feel liberated. They enjoy all rights given to them by God, including the right to be respected and honoured.

Question 11: What is the role of women in Islam?

Women and men in Islam have equal rights, but different roles. First and foremost is the commitment to God. After that, her primary role is like any woman, to care for her family. Then, if the woman wants, she can study or can be trained to work. Women in Islam are encouraged to study.

Question 12: Compared with Christianity?

Historically, when Islam established women’s rights in 7th century, as the right to property, inheritance etc., such rights were unknown to the world, including Christians.

Question 13: Is the headscarf compulsory or an option?

The headscarf is compulsory as stated clearly in our religion.

Question 14: Why do you wear the headscarf ?

I am happy when I wear headscarf as I obey God’s will. There is great wisdom behind this. I feel liberated, honoured and respected.

Question 15:  Is the burqa obligatory for  a Muslim?

The burqa is a garment worn only in Afghanistan and is not compulsory. Islam requires that women cover their  head, body and hands [arms] with modest clothing. They may wear what they want providing  they respect the initial conditions.

Question 16: Where is the issue of the mosque being stuck ?

In the cogs of bureacracy, lack of interest is given by the government to handle and resolve the matter.

Question 17: Without a mosque which mysteries can’t the Muslims  perform?

Islam has no mysteries in the sense that there are in Christianity. The mosque, however, is the core of Muslim life and a place of tranquility. Without a mosque, a believer can not pray on a Friday which is compulsory and to live a life full of spirituality.

Question 18: Without a Muslim cemetery where can the Muslims be buried?

Either they get buried in their countries of origin which is a  hopelessly a slow and costly process. The Greeks and those who have no homes to be buried, such as the Palestinians,  they get buried in a cemetery of Thrace,  which is also a slow and costly process.

Question 19: Where do marriages and baptisms take place?

In Islam, we have no mysteries such as marriages and baptisms. The name is given to the child at birth. The marriages are either in a register office  if one of the spouses is Greek or in the embassies of the country of origin.

Question 20: Is there  racism against Muslims?

Your everyday Greek citizen has no racisim against his Muslim neighbour.