US State Department religious freedom report on Greece

Source : www.athensnews.gr

by (ANA-MPA)

The burnt-out Jewish Synagogue in the old city of Chania, Crete, 25 January 2010. Two British men have been arrested and two Americans sought in connection with arson attacks on the medieval synagogue.

News alert: Canadian scholars on niqab issue

Source: CAIR-CAN

- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

Statement by Canadian Islamic Scholars and Mainstream Muslim Organizations Reaffirms Freedom of Religious Expression

(OTTAWA – October 9, 2009) In response to recent calls to ban the niqab (face veil) in Canada, a wide coalition of mainstream Canadian Muslim organizations in conjunction with Canadian Islamic scholars issued a statement today reaffirming the freedom of religion and conscience in Canada.

The statement read as follows:

“The recent calls to ban the niqab (face veil) in Canada are misplaced and contravene the fundamental principles of our free and democratic society. All Canadians, whether Muslim or not, are guaranteed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms the freedom of religion and conscience. The state has no business in the wardrobes of the nation.

“Therefore, if a segment of Canadian Muslim women believe that wearing the niqab is part of their religious practice, then they must be allowed to freely do so. The principle must be extended to all religious practices, provided the practice does not infringe upon the fundamental rights of others.

 

“The marginalization of Muslim women must be countered with public education and anti-discrimination efforts, not with the state’s dictation on how one may dress, which only serves to further marginalization instead.”

 

STATEMENT SIGNATORIES:

Ahlul-Bayt Centre Ottawa *
Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN)
Canadian Council Of Muslim Theologians (CCMT)
Canadian Council of Imams
Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC)
Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties Association (CMCLA)
Canadian Muslim Women’s Institute (CMWI)
Canadian Muslim Forum (CMF)
Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals Toronto (CAMP Toronto) *
Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre
DawaNet Canada
Federation of Muslim Women *
International Muslims Organization (IMO)
Islamic Ahlul Bayt Assembly of Canada, Richmond Hill *
Islamic Circle of North America Canada (ICNA Canada) *
Islamic Foundation of Toronto *
Islamic Society of British Columbia
Islamic Society of North America Canada (ISNA Canada)
Islamic Social Services Association (ISSA)
Islamic Society of Toronto
Jamat E-Islahul Muslimeen *
Jami Omar Mosque
Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
Muslim Council of Calgary (MCC)
Muslim Association of Canada (MAC)
Muslim Council of Montreal / Conseil Musulman de Montreal
Muslim Presence / Presence Musulmane *
Muslim World League, Canadian Office *
Salaheddin Islamic Centre
Scarborough Muslim Association
TARIC Islamic Centre, Toronto
Young Muslims Canada

CONTACTS:

Nermine Barbouch, CMF Spokesperson, 514.806.3257 [FRANCAIS]
Selma Djukic, CAIR-CAN Spokesperson, 416.726.4992
Shahina Siddiqui, ISSA Executive Director, 204.944.1560
Shk. Yusuf Badat, CCMT Spokesperson, 416.321.0909 ext 235 or 416.402.8542

Some say freedom, some say acceptance

I’ve been watching this poll on our site closely and I find it interesting to see that there is a major split between two answers:

My guess (and this is just a guess) is that many Muslims chose “religious freedom” and many non-Muslims chose “acceptance into Greek society”. 

But this could be problematic.

I mean, how can we solve this problem if we don’t even see eye-to-eye on what the problem is exactly?

Muslims know that the constitution of the European Union guarantees the right of religious freedom, which includes a right to pray in a mosque and be buried in a local cemetery.   And the world knows that Muslims are being withheld their basic human rights.

Why are non-Muslim Greeks not able to understand this?

Muslims want what everyone else wants:

• safety
• a place to pray
• a place to be buried
• a job to sustain their families
• peacefulness with their neighbours
• proper education for their children
• to contribute to society

If ‘acceptance into Greek society’ was our end goal, then we would leave our Islam (that we embraced as an intellectual choice) and just assimilate or revert back to the Greek Christian Orthodox identity. 

But that’s not what we want.

So, the answer here is not ‘acceptance into Greek society’. 

Rather, it’s mutual respect. 

I am a Greek Muslim and I respect you for the freedom of your choice.  You are a Greek Christian, Buddhist, Agnostic, Atheist, Pantheist and you respect me for the freedom of my choice.  We are both humans, both equal, both free to choose our religion and live peacefully together.

The day that people in Greek society realise that the issue is religious freedom and mutual respect is the day that Greeks of all religions can coexist in harmony and enrich its civilisation together.

Fury of Muslims in Greece, Leading Where?

Translated By  Ms. Anna Stamou >

The torn copy of the Holy Qur’ http://www.islamonline.net For two subsequent days hundreds of Muslim immigrant demonstrators filled the streets in Athens protesting against an incident that a police officer had torn up a copy of the Holy Qur’an. The incidents caused different kinds of reactions and resurfaced the problematic status of the marginalized Greek Muslims.According to Mr. Naim El-Ghandour, President of the Muslims Association in Greece (MAG), there was an abrupt police raid on a Syrian café in Athens, across Nicolas Church Street. The clients were checked by Greek policemen who asked the immigrants to show their ID credentials. They also ordered the immigrants to take off their shoes, socks. They were thoroughly searched. However, nothing illegal was found and the immigrants proved to be legally residents of the country. Up to that point, nobody was to blame… During the raid, one of the Greek officers, whose identity is still anonymous, approached Mohammad, 24 years, speaks poor Greek, and asked him to empty his pockets. Worth mentioning that the Syrian café is a meeting and a recreational place for many Muslims in Athens. Among the belongings of the young man, the officer found a booklet with Arabic characters and asked what it was. “It is the Holy Qur’an, which I recite every morning and evening” Mohammad replied. “As you recite the Gospel, we have the Qur’an” he tried to explain. The police officer’s reaction to those words was that he tore the Holy Qur’an up, threw it on the floor, and stepped on it. One of his fellow officers asked him to stop because this was the Holy book of the Muslims, but in vain… Immediate Reactions With a torn up version of the Holy Qur’an, the President of the Muslim Association of Greece headed for the closest police station and the Public Order and Safety (Ministry of Internal Affairs in Greece) and reported the sacrilege. Statements of the Greek Authorities As a rejection to any kind of anti-religious freedom action, Mr. Evangelos Antonaros, the Deputy Government Spokesman, issued the following statement on May 22, 2009 (full statement is on the official website of the Ministry of Interior, Hellenic Government, click here): “The Greek State totally respects the religious freedom of everyone and distinctly convicts any kind of insult for such freedom, especially insulting sacred texts and symbols that are inextricable parts of any faith. Every action that is turned against the religious freedom of the others warrants total disapproval of the Greek society that traditionally accepts with hospitality people belonging to any race or religion, since they respect the laws of our country.” Muslims’ Feelings after the Insult Mr. Naim El-Ghandour with the torn copy of the Holy Qur’an. “The fact that the police officer tore up the Qur’an and stepped on it is a major crime as far as Muslims are concerned,” Mr. Naim El-Ghandour explained.“The Qur’an is our sacred symbol and represents our Faith,” “It is a tremendous insult of the religious beliefs of people who have found themselves targeted by wars and islamophobia evoked against them even in Greece,” El-Ghandour highlighted with sorrow. On the governmental level, Mr. Christos Markogiannakis, the Deputy Minister of Inner Affairs stated that: “The General Police Administration of Athens is investigating this case in which a policeman is accused of insulting a religious symbol. The inquiry goes into depth and whoever is proven responsible for such act will be brought to justice. Escalating the Situation Moreover, Mr. Naim added that some of the small Left parties misused the situation by provoking the immigrants to demonstrate against the racist and oppressive acts of the police in St. Panteleimonas area. Demonstrations centred in the heart of Athens where those parties distributed posters with their claims, using the ripped part of the Qur’an as a trigger for violent reactions. Consequently, the Hellenic Government replied to those actions saying: “The incident is still under investigation. Yet, it does not justify the actions by some people who are determined to commit damages to civilians’ properties nor to engage in civil clashes causing injuries and disturbing severely the social and economical life of the city,” added Mr. Markogiannakis. MAG Attitude On the other hand, Mr. Naim El-Ghandour stressed “the Muslim Association of Greece as well as the habitués of all mosques in Athens has refused to participate in any demonstration.” “We resort to the legal channels. We are waiting to recognize the name of the involved police officer in order to sue him. Of course we have every confidence in the Greek Judicial System. As the whole country faces depression and crisis, a reckless man commits an irresponsible action and creates a problem. To All Immigrants During his statement, Mr. Markogiannakis addressed the whole immigrant community saying: “We ask the legitimate immigrants who live in Greece to respect peace and order assuring that the State will not allow such extremist behaviors. We expect from all political forces to show responsibility, to satisfy the demands of the civilians within law and order. The problem of illegal immigration is a sensitive national issue.” (Full Statement by the Greek Deputy Minister of Interior for the current events in the center of Athens in Greek, Please click here to view) Causes for the outrageous reaction “Many of the new immigrants are young, kids of 19, 20  years old, who have no jobs, face every day hunger, and have lots of problems..” Mr. El-Ghandour explained. Under such circumstances, the slightest provocation can cause an explosion and especially for a religious symbol. We should have mutual respect for each other’s religions. Everyone should treat the other’s sanctuaries with respect. The politicians need to speed up action and find a solution for the immigrants’ problems and we must learn to live together respecting each other,” he added. Political Declarations On a broader level, all the political parties in Greece have condemned this incident. Characteristically, the PASOK Spokesman Giorgos Papakonstantinou pointed out that the “phenomena of humiliation and disrespect of the religious rights and the insult of symbols of any religion cannot be tolerated for any citizen;  Greek or immigrant.” (For more information, please click here). Causalities on all levels The Pakistanis, Afghanis, and Bangladeshis participated in those demonstrations that lasted for two days and serious damages occurred: many stores, cars, bus stops were smashed. Many thieveries occurred; there were also injured policemen and immigrants. Again, the smell of tear gas and of the cocktail Molotov canisters was spread everywhere in Athens. Late at night, a small group of people set fire to a basement of a residential building where there was a prayer place, an unofficial mosque for the Bangladesh community. Four people were inside the prayer place at that hour and luckily they were not hurt. However, none was blamed for this terrorist act which was regarded as an act of revenge. Mohammed, the immigrant involved with the officer, having the torn version of the Holy Quran accompanied by Mr. Naim El-Ghandour, the president of Muslim Association of Greece, and represented by the distinguished attorney Frangiskos Ragousis filed a lawsuit at the Hellenic Courts on Monday May the 24th. All parties are waiting for the Court’s ruling…

Live dialogue: Imam’s role in Greece

Br. Naim El-Ghandour, President of the Muslim Association of Greece, held an important live dialogue on IslamOnline.net this week.  

For those of you who missed it, you can read the questions and answers at the link below. Topics about Muslims in Greece include the imam’s role, the make-up of Muslims, the issues of the mosque and cemetery and religious freedom etc.

View the dialogue

My Big Fat Greek Project

I was intereviewed by the Queen of Sheba program so I thought I would share my dreams with you too.

I had this insane dream to revolutionize Islam in Greece. I sat down one day and just wrote out a 10 year vision plan. I kept writing and writing and I couldn’t stop. Then I just stared at it and I remember thinking, this is insane! But it was just an exhilarating feeling to even allow myself to take my imagination that far. At that point, I was determined more than ever to go through with it.

I was scared because I was only one person and I barely knew any other Greek Muslims let alone in Greece but I did know that Greece was the only European Union country where there is still no mosque allowed in its capital city. This is the place where every Muslim is called a Turk who “enslaved them for 400 years”. So, you can imagine the mountain of a task in front of me.

On the other hand, practically speaking, it is proven that in order for women to feel stress-free while they are succeeding, they need to feel that they have support (which is not [necessarily] the case for men). I have been blessed to find a team that works with me on the same vision and this is my backbone.

Iman: I want to see religious freedom for Muslims in Greek society as well as mutual respect between people of different faiths. I hope that through our efforts, we will establish a thriving communal system that will become an integral part of Greek society.

 

——–

“Freedom or death”, Greeks called. Well, practise what you preach.

 
I’ve been itching to rant about this.  When they called “freedom or death” in the War of Independence, well, just what kind of freedom was it?  It’s quite ironic that Greeks are known to be freedom fighters but then when Greek Muslims want the freedom to practise their religion, they can’t.

It just doesn’t make sense.

Come home pregnant, a Buddhist or an atheist and everything’s fine.  Come home a Muslim  — actually, just don’t come home — because you are not part of our family anymore!

What happened to freedom?

Oh, and this is the biggest confusion for me.  You are Greek only if you are baptized in the church as a Greek Orthodox.  (And therefore, the only people who have the right to freedom are those who fit in this definition?) Hmmm. 

So, is a Greek Buddhist a Greek?

What about a Greek atheist?

Or, the Greeks who lived on this earth before Jesus?

Are they Greeks?

What about Alexander the Great? 

Is he Greek?

Or Zeus?

So, you’re saying that Zeus shouldn’t have had the freedom to practise his religion because he wasn’t baptized in the church?  Who made up this ludicrous definition anyway?  Or does the definition of a Greek change based on the whims and desires of a few people?

I call it selective freedom.  Well, I have news for you.

Greek people are waking up.  They see that what they are learning in Greek school or Religion class is not accurate at best and down-right biased or false at worst.  You can only condition a child so much these days until they figure out what the internet is and start reading accurate information about history and religion. 

It’s interesting that most atheists are coming out of Christianity.  You have to wonder why.  People have questions and many times, Christianity is not answering them.  Now, I completely respect every type of person, regardless of what religion he/she professes.  And I will treat them with respect. 

God gave everyone a brain to study and the freedom to choose what they want to believe.  BUT LET THEM CHOOSE.  You might not understand their choice, but respect it.

We have questioned.  We have reasoned.  We have investigated.  Thoroughly. And we found the truth – Islam.

This is how we want to live in peace with our Creator, peace with ourselves and peace with society.  This is our freedom and no one can take that away from us.  Call that the Greek in us or the Muslim in us, but we are free.  Free from worshipping humans.