Greek Defence Minister Venizelos to the Muslim community: behold the mosque and cemetery
March 8, 2010
Source: inews.gr
© Translation Muslim Association of Greece
The way has opened for the construction of the mosque in Votanikos and the creation of a Muslim cemetery in Shisto, after a meeting held between the Mayor of Athens Nikitas Kaklamanis and the Minister of National Defense Evangelos Venizelos. The problem is that the “path” will pass – if it does – through the middle of the Naval Base, cutting it essentially in two and having already caused “frustration” in the Navy, as beyond the procedural issues, the cost is also high. The Navy, of course, cannot do anything enough though they are annoyed, as it has already been agreed by Mr. Venizelos and Mr. Kaklamanis.
The two sides have also come to an agreement regarding the creation of a green park, area of 500acres, in Goudi. The Minister of National Defence has given instructions for the actions needed, as we mentioned above, the land for the construction of the mosque belongs to the Navy and the launch of solutions for both issues. If this happens then a major problem concerning the Muslim community in Athens will be solved.
We remind that discussions had taken place in 2006 as well as a year ago. Then the matter of direct implementation of governmental commitments to build mosque in Athens and a Muslim cemetery in Shisto was brought back by the Muslim Association of Greece.
The President of the Association, Naim Elghandour, had sent letters to the relevant Ministers of Interior and Education Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Aris Spiliotopoulos, requesting the immediate breakout of procedures required.
According to the information then, the president of the Association had stated that due to the obstruction of the Greek state, Muslims find the opportunity to create informal places of worship “with the difference that they do not have as central reference the harmonious coexistence of people and the good of Greece, but promote their own aspirations for their own benefit.”
For the records Mr. Naim Elghandour, the man who played a major role in the Quran story is Egyptian in origin. He lives in Greece for the past 35 years and is naturalized as Greek citizen. As he stated in an interview, “The Muslim Association of Greece is the largest Muslim union in Greece. Our members are Greek nationals, immigrants and refugees coming mainly from Arab countries. We also represent the majority of informal places of worship in Athens. In Athens today live hundreds of thousands of Muslims, from various professions and social statuses, while thousands of children study in Greek schools and universities.”
The Muslim Association states that today in Greece live roughly 1.000.000 Muslims – that is to say, 10% of the Greek population. It is therefore understandable how important it is to resolve these issues. Particularly, regarding the creation of the first Muslim cemetery, according to information available, that particular land belongs to the Navy but is used by the Army. The municipality requested, the land to be transferred so that the first Muslim cemetery can be created as well as the installations for the combustion of dead; however they examine as an alternative the third cemetery.
Regarding the botanical area, today there operates the Central Marine Car Station, a 20 year old building. If, therefore, the area was freed, the Navy and the Ministry of National Defence have requested the payment of the relocation costs, which makes it almost unaffordable. Regarding Goudi Park, the municipality has asked the Ministry to grant them 500 acres – from the 4500 total in this particular area – so, in cooperation with the Municipality of Zografou, the creation of a single green space. According to the municipality of Athens, that will create a green belt with bicycle paths, and the execution place of Nikos Belogiannis will be designated.
Translated by: Elena Nikolova-Pouliasi
Criminal in Greece: Muslim with the Quran
February 24, 2010
Source: Proto Thema
A member of a gang of burglars and stolen goods receiver was finally proven to be a young Syrian that had accused a police officer to rip his Quran an step on it last May. There were serious incidents as a result of this accusation in the center of Athens by Muslims and a serious turbulence from the police.
The 27year old Hasan Ramsy was convicted a few days ago to 10 months imprisonment because he was selling stolen goods. The Quran that he was holding however orders clearly, “Do not steal”…
After serious information, there was a police swoop in the underground apartment that Hamzy was living with another Syrian and they bumped into a …treasure. Jewels, watches, mobile phones, electronic devices and other valuable objects were found, that were stolen by a gang of burglars from houses and apartments in the north suburbs of Athens.
During the examination, the 27 Syrian denied that he was in the gang but he claimed that he bought the goods by an unknown man without knowing they were stolen.
His allegation did not convince the court that gave him 10 months imprisonment with a three year parole period, for “accepting and supplying products of crime” while the investigations of the police are continuing to track the gang of burglars.
He left at night…
After the end of the trial, Hamzy was left free and he returned to his country as they stated at “Thema” his co-patriots from the Aghios Panteleimonas area, but also the president of the Muslim Association of Greece, Mr. Naim Elghandour, has no better opinion for the 27year old man. “I know that he wanted to leave from Greece. He contacted me and said that he wants to return back to Syria. Generally he was weird. He was hanging around in strange neighborhoods and he was arrested for forged papers. I told him to be careful. He asked me for money to leave Greece but I found out later that he wanted to take advantage of me,” Mr. Elghandour stated.
He attempted to legalize himself with forged documents
Hasan Hamzy abandoned Greece just as he came. Illegally. He had stated on a TV show that he came illegally to Samos from Turkey in 2002 and after that he came to Athens. In 2003 he applied for his documents to become legal, when government Simitis had those measures, but stating that he was Iraqi by the name Mohammed Attiq and not Syrian. Last May, a policeman that was participating at an operation-broom at Aghios Panteleimonas at the center of Athens stopped Hamzy to check his papers. According to what the young man stated, the policeman ripped pages from the Quran that he had on him and then he stepped on it swearing.
As a result, there was a reaction by a large Muslim immigrant population that lives in Athens and for two days of serious incidents that were provoked from fanatics who damaged vehicles and stores, and there were also injuries. The Muslim Association of Greece and their president Naim Elghandour condemned those incidents then while they applied a law suit against the policeman who offended the holy book of millions of people worldwide.
Mr. Elghandour underlines that some people deliberately attempted to make Hamzy a hero. “Then at the incidents they attempted to make him a hero but the Muslim Association did not allow that to happen. The incidents were incited and we did not allow Athens to burn once again. What we did and proved that we care for this country, is take a law suit against any responsible person, to put responsibility –if there are to the policeman who ripped the Quran. We are waiting the case to go to trial,” he states.
Enet.gr: Immigrant neighorhood in Athens
December 4, 2009
The Arabs have their own corner at the Neos Cosmos neighborhood of immigrants
Source : Enet
A scent of aromatic spices is spread at the alleys of Neos Cosmos in Athens. Satellite dishes and men’s washed clothes coexist in the tiny balconies of the old residential buildings for the workers. Young Arabs ask for 30€ a day at construction jobs.
The Arabs settled at Neos Cosmos since the 80s looking for a new life. The central mosque of the Arabs is located at a multi-storey building on Galaxia Street. At the entrance we met Naim Elghandour, president of the Muslim Association of Greece, “Yesterday night they attempted again to attack an Arab store of the neighborhood. It was the same group. The Arabs caught on to them and they chased them. Now they are guarding their stores”.
There is an Arabic supermarket in the building’s basement. The owner is Mazen Rassas, vice president of the Association. He treats us mango juice saying that “around the neighborhood there are about ten Arabic mini markets. Our customers are Syrians, Egyptians and Iraqis. But Greeks also come.”
Rassas narrates, “We settled at Neos Cosmos in the 80s. It was then that the first Arabs were arriving. Then we began constructing this building. We used the underground garage as a mosque. We were asking permission from the governments to build our mosque ourselves but they did not allow it. We hope one day to achieve it”.
The shelves of the store – as in all Arab stores – are loaded with Arabic bread, dates, Arabic newspapers, rice and lentils of fine quality, spices that their smell is spread out to the street. But there are no customers, “the same situation we share with all Greek store owners. We are dancing the same dance…”
Brothers, cousins, the whole family lives on the upper floors of the building. For so many years there has never existed a single problem with the neighbors. Even when we gather every Friday more than 1000 Arabs to pray”. They squeeze, one next to the other, and they do not fit in. They fill the stairs, the pavement…
We descend with Naim Elghandour to the second basement that operates as a mosque. A blue carpet is laid down and has a ventilation system. Young Arabs are studying the Quran.
Behind a curtain at the right corner is the library. Every weekend, they say, is full of students that learn Greek and Arabic language, and are taught the Quran.
No cemetery
The vice president of the Muslim Association is pointing out the need for a cemetery. “I buried my parents at Komotini. For years and years we knock the doors of the ministries without an answer”.
N.Elghandour adds, “We pay the operating expenses from our pockets. We do not ask for funding and European programs, we want to be independent. But a program for integration of the Arabs could be launched in the local society. We also ask from the City of Athens to bestow us a place with low rent to cover the needs of the community. We closed our offices to save the rent.”
We discussed the attack at the two stores, “It was a fascist attack. Some young people attacked, but also young are the Arabs. If they chase them they will catch them. And then we will go to another situation. The state must secure the fortune of the victims of such terroristic attacks. We noted down the destruction and we will claim compensation at the courts.”
In Attica, more than 700 000 Muslims live legally. We need an imam theologist, with academic education. If they allow this we will pay from our wages his salary and his accommodation. Now every community sets an imam that is a construction worker…” he adds.
A few meters away, at Dorm Street, the workers’ residential building are located. Men’s clothes freshly washed and satellite dishes are witnessing that there lives exclusively Arab immigrants. “They repaired the face work, the apartments. They were dilapidated,” an old woman remembers.
We met her across the street at the store “Salma” that was destructed at the attack. Salle gives her a bottle of water. He says that “I am trying to replace the broken glass windows. I pay 350 euro for 9m².” His customers are the Arabs of the buildings across. “Here lives more than 200 Syrians. They all work at construction jobs. They pay rent of 250-270 euro for 30 m² at these dilapidated buildings. Three to six people live in every small apartment.
We go four floors up by the stairs. There was never an elevator. Nor central heating. From the moldy walls of the corridors old pieces of plaster are dropping. Hussein, 28, opens his door and shows us the repairs proudly. He tiled the bathroom and repaired the old window doors. He lives with an Iraqi to share the rent. He complains, “There are no jobs. A year without a wage. And I just ask for 30 euro a day. But in Syria and Iraq things are worse. It is impossible to go back”.
The Greeks
At the entrance we meet a Greek man, “Some Greeks and Arabs sub-rent rooms by person. Things get wild. It’s like we have a piece of meat, we pull from the edges like dogs”.
At the Arabic café, at Kasomouli Street, the Arabs of the neighborhood met. “Here we live 350 Arabs. Every morning we go to work, at evening we go home. We gather ten people in each apartment. We drink tea, chess, backgammon, cards. This is our life,” says Aiman Alahmat.
“Did the neighbors stand up for you?”
“One does not bother the other. We do not steal, we do not make trouble. We know each other, many of us are relatives. We need work and legal documents. Not to be attacked by the fascists and not to be disturbed by the police. We do not need them.”
At the café, before the gathering of Arabs and Greeks in order to group the “committee of Greeks and immigrant residents of Neos Cosmos,” we met Thanasis Kourkoulas from the movement ‘Deport Racism’: “Many Arabs from Neos Cosmos are attending the Sunday immigrant school. They have an organized community, they help each other to overcome the difficulties. They are angry though because suddenly fascist groups are appearing that question their peaceful coexistence.”
By Georgia Dhama
Photo by Spyros Tsakiris
First conference in Athens: “The Muslim Communites and their Cultural Identity”
October 14, 2009
October 14, 2009 by Anna
The first Muslim Conference in Athens is a fact. On Tuesday October 6 at the National Research Foundation the conference took place by the title “The Muslim Communities and their Cultural Identity”. The organizers were the Cultural Center of the Iranian Embassy in Athens, the World Forum for Proximity of the Islamic Schools of thought and the Muslim Association of Greece.
The unity of the Muslims was the basic characteristic of this conference. Shias and Sunnis all sat together and discussed basic matters that affect all Muslims of the Western world.
Famous guests honored the event as Ayatollah Taskhiri, Ayatollah Ahtari and professor Tabarayan from Al Zahra University Tehran who traveled from Iran for this event exclusively. From Egypt came Dr. Mohammed Abdelmaksoud Herzullah of Al Azhar University and imam of the Hussein Mosque of Cairo.
From Muftiya of Didymotiho participated the deputy mufti Dr.Yashar Damadoglu, and from Komotini came Mr. Hassan Patchaman and the unofficial mufti of Komotini Mr. Ibrahim Sherif.
The national communities saluted the conference, stating -beside their presence- the basic problems the Muslims face as the lack of mosque and Muslim cemetery. A salutation also addressed professor Vangelis Pissias.
The identity of the Muslim at the non-Muslim country was the central point where all speakers inclined to the fact that the Muslim must be in a brotherhood with his co-religionists, not to let small differences divide them because this way he loses his rights.
The Muslim must respect the laws of the country he lives in and to be dutiful to his obligations in order to be in position to deserve and claim from his society. There is a way to maintain his identity and at the same time to integrate as long as he is a true believer, pursue the unity and participate actively at the Muslim community.
This is the first time that such a conference is organized and in fact, it had a very satisfactory turnout and media coverage. Also, the local authorities expressed their interest to have more educational events as seminars or conferences aiming at the information, education, solving of problems around the life of the Muslims in our country. The Muslim Association of Greece illustrated the necessity of such events as they benefit the society on the whole because the society asks for improvement of its problems, harmonious coexistence between citizens and mutual respect.
The outcome of the conference read Professor Tabarayan and in the end he emphasized the significance of showing the right face of Islam to the world and that Muslims should work towards this way, always in unity.
Read the conference speech by MAG
(over 40 photos)
Call for Athens mosque by Cairo Imam
October 12, 2009
Source: Ethnos
Muhammad Herzullah, Professor of Al Azhar University – Imam of Hussein Mosque Cairo
The request of the presence of an official imam and the existence of a mosque and Muslim cemetery in Athens expressed in his interview at “Ethnos”, Dr. Muhammad Herzullah, Professor of Al Azhar University and Imam of Hussein Mosque of Cairo. Dr. Herzullah defends the ideals of Islam and states that many times Islam is distorted in the West. The imam also rejects the aspect that the division of the Muslims into Shias and Sunnis has religious base and he supports that in fact there are different schools of Islamic thought.
An interview with Paraskevi Vonatsou
The interview was given in the context of the International Conference that took place in Athens the day before yesterday and the translation was made with the assistance of the president of the Muslim Association of Greece, Mr. Naim Elghandour.
In the Western world many times it is attempted to connect Islam with terrorism. How do you interpret that?
There is not the relevant education to understand Islam. In the countries that the one is connected with the other there is not the right information, Islam is something unknown.
Islam is a religion with high standards, respects for others and all opinions. This is the basis of Islam. I wish there were theologians coming from certified universities to many countries, in order to avoid misconceptions.
Then why there are deaths in the name of jihad?
The word jihad is another misunderstood term of the West that connects it with terrorism. It is a fight, and effort, a struggle. The word jihad exists everywhere: when one is going to study, to work, when one tries to solve problems between people, when he preserves his rights, when he defends his country.
In Athens, where there is not an official imam, is there a bad interpretation of the Quran from those who play the imam role at the unofficial praying places?
This is really very dangerous because anyone may interprete the Quran as he pleases. The authorities of the countries that have Muslim population must take care of the wellbeing of the country and for the harmonious coexistence, they must solve this matter, so that the faithful know which is the true Islam.
Does the religious division between Shias and Sunnis exist, or this is a case of political perspectives?
In fact those are different Islamic schools of thought. This hard rivalry between them is provoked by enemies of Islam, as happened in Iraq, where after the intervention of the foreign powers began the inner fight between them.
What is Islam at last? Is this a religion, and ideology or a way of living?
Islam is the vein of life. What gives life. It respects other religions, wants dialogue and thinking, and adopts the exchange of opinions with other religions, in order to eliminate religious conflicts and deaths in the name of religions.
There is the aspect that the Muslim woman has a diminished role in the society. Is this an order from the Quran?
No, this is a wrong aspect. Islam has given rights to the woman and gives her freedom of thinking and will. For example when a woman does not want to marry someone, she expresses that, she cannot get married by force, also the courts issue divorces to women. The Muslim is also a very good husband.
Polygamy is not derogatory for a woman? Why does it not exist for the opposite also?
I invite you to think which is best: a man to have two or three formal wives with rights at heritage, at pension and fortune or to have mistresses? The vise versa does not stand because a woman is not created in her nature to have many husbands. It is scientifically proven that the woman in her nature cannot marry more than a husband. This does not underestimate the woman. It is characteristic that many women accept the role of the second wife instead of being mistresses without marriage.
How do you comment the fact that there is not an official mosque and Muslim cemetery in Athens?
Greece is considered as the Cradle of Democracy and Freedom since those ideals were born here. I also ask the Greek government to make action those that your country represents. Like in Egypt, we have Orthodox churches and schools and communities and cemeteries.
Muslim Conference in Athens
The different schools of Islamic thought but also the hot issue of not having a mosque and a Muslim cemetery in Athens were the issues that were discussed at the first international conference titled “the Muslim Communities and their Cultural Identity”.
The initiative for the organizing this belongs to the Cultural Center of the Iranian embassy in Athens, to the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic School of Thought, and the Muslim Association of Greece. In the beginning at his salutation, Mr. Yunes, representative of the Afghani immigrants in Greece underlined that Athens is the only European country, despite of the existing laws that has not allowed yet the existence of a formal place of worship and a cemetery for the Muslims.
On behalf of the Muslim Association of Greece, Mrs. Anna Stamou underlined, “Islam is a system of life, not just a religion, and takes part at every aspect of people’s life. If someone wants to be called a good Muslim, he must fully respect the laws of the state in the country he lives.” The result of the conference was read by a professor of Tehran university and concluded that the right face of Islam must be shown globally.
Between the speakers were Ayatollah Akhtari, of the International Committee of Prophet Muhammad’s descendents, Ayatollah Taskhiri, secretary General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic School of Thought, Yashar Sherif Damadoglou deputy mufti of Didymotiho and the unofficial Mufti of Komotini Ibrahim Sherif, to whom the Muslim Association of Greece kept the distances.
Iftar Dinner with Ambassadors in Greece
September 8, 2009
View the Dinner Photo Gallery (40 photos)
On September 1st, the Muslim Association of Greece (MAG) organised an official iftar dinner at the Lendra Marriott Hotel for the first time. The event began with the arrival of distinguished guests, the necessary introductions and greetings until the time of interruption of fasting.
Main appearances such as the U.S. ambassador, who accepted the invitation of MAG with great pleasure, the ambassador of Iran with the cultural attaché, and many representatives of the embassies of other countries.
The Chief of Police of Attica District Mr. Rahovitsas honoured the event representing the entire leadership of EL.AS, elite group of officers of IPES (Ministry of Internal Affairs), Mr. Giannis Sgouros, and Prefect of Athens, the former Minister Mr. T. Pangalos, and Minister Mr. Dritsas with Professor Mr. Pissias. The Church of Greece was represented by Professor Al. Kariotoglou. Many friends of MAG were also present on such an important night as this.
The evening opened by greetings at the podium by the president of MAG, Naim Elghandour, who welcomed the attendees, wished for a similar next year’s Ramadan meeting, and noted that the sponsors of the event were Greek Muslims. He also announced the conference which is co-organized by MAG for October the 6th, the theme of which is going to be The Union between Sunni and Shia Muslims with distinguished Shiite and Sunni Imams from Iran and Egypt as key speakers.
Then the U.S. Ambassador Mr. Daniel Speckhard spoke with warm words about the event and the importance of mutual respect and harmonious coexistence. Then Professor Kariotoglou followed by giving greetings on behalf of Archbishop Ieronymos, spoke of the importance of iftar and fasting, the importance of praising and thanking God for what we have and reminded everybody that the real important lesson is to glorify God despite our differences.
Following the time, there was a traditional interruption of fasting with water, milk and dates. That was followed by the adhan (call to prayer) and the Muslims gathering in an area in the room to offer the Maghreb prayer.
Food and friendly conversation followed. Political debate did not go amiss and the next day national elections were declared for October the 4th.
It was a successful event, a friendly evening for everyone and even the ambassadors of the United States and Iran exchanged a handshake wishing each other Happy Ramadan. And all appointments were renewed for next Ramadan.
