First mosque in Athens opens after 187 years
The first mosque funded by the state opened in Athens on Friday, November 6, 2020. Muslims living in Greece will now pray inside the mosque for nearly after 200 years.
Since 1833, this is the mosque that has been opened in the Greek capital. Its opening was delayed for around 14 years because of opposition from religious and political factions.
Inaugural prayers were held in the mosque under physical distancing measures due to the rise in coronavirus’ cases in Greece.
Muslims living in the country could not have a mosque to offer prayers since the country forced occupying Ottomans to leave around 200 years ago.
Predominant Christian Orthodox population and nationalists were a cause of delays in the plans to build a mosque in Athens. An official grand opening is also on the charts as soon as the Covid-19 restrictions come to an end.
