Greek MPs approve first Athens mosque

Wed Sep 7, 2011

Greece's parliament has approved the construction of the first official Mosque in Athens, as demanded by thousands of its Muslim residents, after 35 years of debate.

The project to build a place of worship for its Muslim population in the Greek capital had 198 votes in favor, and only 16 against.

The measure was voted for by MPs of all political parties except for those belonging to Laos, the small far right-wing party.

Giorgos Karatzaferis, who leads the party, accused the government of creating “a laboratory for the production of terrorists in the center of Athens.”

Athens is the only European capital city that does not have any mosques for its 200,000 Muslim residents.

The mosque construction plan calls for the renovation of an existing state building which is a disused military base, in the run-down Athens industrial district of Elaionas.

Despite the Greek governments' promises, thousands of Muslims who live and work in Athens do not have an official prayer site or a cemetery.

Muslims have built mosques in rented flats and disused warehouses, all of which are regularly targeted in racist attacks.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.com/detail/197953.html.