After years of delays caused by the red tape, cutbacks and opposition from religious and political factions, the first government-funded mosque in Athens since 1833 opened its doors to worshippers on Friday, the Associated Press reported.
Thousands of Muslims from Pakistan, Syria, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh live in Athens but the city has not had a formal mosque since it forced Ottomans to leave nearly 200 years ago.
The Plans to build a mosque in Athens began in 1890 but it took decades for them to materialize due to opposition from a predominantly Christian Orthodox population and nationalists but most recently a decade-long financial crisis.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, only a limited number of worshippers, wearing masks and sitting at a distance from each other due to COVID-19 restrictions were allowed to attend the prayers.
“It is a historic moment for the Muslim community living in Athens, we have been waiting for this mosque for so long,” said Heider Ashir, a member of the mosque’s governing council.
“Thanks to God, finally, we have a mosque which is open and we can pray here freely, We thank them very much for the offer, but we will fight to reach it to the level that we deserve.”
Under a lockdown to curb a surge in COVID infections, gatherings for formal worshipping will be banned from Saturday until November 30.
“We will pray at home, and as soon as the lockdown is over the mosque will again be open for the worshippers,” Ashir said.