Greek Lawmakers Vote Building First Official Mosque In Athens

Greece parliament has voted for the speed-up work of the nation’s first official mosque in Athens for the Muslims to pray instead of using the makeshift mosques.

Greece gained independence from Ottoman Empire in 1832 and until now, for about 180 years, the nation had no official mosque for Muslim community.

More than 200,000 Muslims live in capital Athens.

A total of 230 members were present today in the Greek parliament and 206 of them voted in favor of the construction of official mosque in Athens. The political parties who voted against it were far-right Golden Dawn and right-wing Independent Greeks.

Greek Education Minister Nikos Filis said, “Greece Votes Building Official Mosque For Muslims In Athens.”

The construction will cost about $1 million and is to be funded by the government. It will be built in the west of Athens in Votanikos area and on the land owned by Hellenic Navy.

Filis added the mosque will help stop radicalization of local Muslims.

He said, “If we wish to avoid the problems facing France and Belgium, we should not make the mistakes that they are now trying to deal with.”

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