Greek Govt. Will Pay for First Mosque in Athens; No Minaret So It Can Blend in with Its Ambiance

Although the Greek government will pay for Greece's first mosque in the Athens neighborhood of Votanikos, it will not allow a minaret on the mosque, Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos stated in a letter to the Parliament, the Greek Reporter website reports today (May 14, 2013).

Avramopoulos said that the mosque -- which will have a capacity of 350 -- will be developed at an existing state building -- an unused naval base that will be renovated in an industrial area. He added that a minaret would not be harmonious with the surroundings.

"The matter of the construction of a mosque has bothered the State bodies in a long term, so as the best possible solution for the maintenance of the integral balance and safety would be found," Avramopoulos reported. He added, "at the same time, it is a standing request of the Muslim residents of Greece."

Currently, Athens is the only capital city in all of Europe that does not have a mosque. More than 90 percent of Greece's population belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church.