ATHENS
“I am proud to see construction of a mosque in Athens in my ministerial term,” said Greek Transport and Infrastructure Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis on Thursday.
Athens is the only European capital without a mosque, Chrysochoidis said in Greek parliament, responding to far-right Golden Dawn party MP Ilias Panayotaros' parliamentary question.
Reminding the Greek Parliament's decision to build a mosque in Athens eight years ago, Chrysochoidis said that he is not categorizing the people as Jewish, Armenian, Buddhist, Christian or Muslim.
“The only criteria for me is to respect the constitution and law,” he said.
The Greek Parliament has approved a plan in 2011 to build a mega-mosque in Athens, as thousands of Muslim residents of the city pressuring the government to meet their demands. Greece's far-right Golden Dawn party has threatened to block the plan.
The Greek minister also criticized the Golden Dawn party for “talking mindlessly.” Golden Dawn party's attitude about the mosque construction does not reflect the feeling of Greek people, added Chrysochoidis. Athens has been criticized by human rights groups such as Amnesty International for being only European capital without a mosque since its independence from Ottomans in 1882.
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