According to the Greek City Times, the construction of a new mosque is being shaped in downtown Athens and is in its final stages. A Greek newspaper named ‘Iefimerida ‘entered an area named Votanikos documenting the structure in its final stages of being made. This mosque reportedly was set to be completed last year, however, the process took a little longer. The mosque spans 17 acres, catering for a capacity of 350 men and women. The structure itself is mostly built, besides parts of the inside, and surrounding area as they aim to create spaces for more people to pray outside.

As images taken by Iefimerida show, the mosque, which is not supposed to have a minaret, has a large area of worship for both men and women. The mosque is designed for a capacity for 350 people, however, more will be able to now pray outdoors.  In the center of the large hall, there is a “sanctuary” for Muslims, where the Imam (person leading the prayer) is facing towards Mecca. In the same building, there are also toilets and other facilities.

Reality is prior to this, there were no mosques in Athens, the capital of Greece. An interesting turn of events occurred, however, due to far-right group Golden Dawn party protested in central Athens to oppose the state-funded construction of the mosque. One Twitter user delved into Athen’s history of mosques stating a mosque was built in the 15th century, “where  Ottoman Turkish invaders had converted the Parthenon”, in 432 BCE and functioned as a mosque for 200 years. However, the mosque was, “demolished when Independent Greece gained control in 1882.” Other Twitter users mentioned how Athens is the last European capital city to build a mosque.

The Economist published, “in constitutional theory, Greece is a country whose prevailing religion, followed by an overwhelming majority, is Orthodox Christianity. With an important exception (the region adjacent to the land border with Turkey), most of the country’s Muslims were transferred to Turkey under an agreed Christian-Muslim population exchange in 1923.”

Tensions do run deep between the countries, and religion has often become conflated with politics leaving religious buildings and symbols as key tools that have become monopolised in the conflict.

Image from @efimerida

Image from @efimerida

Far-right protesters in Greece sing national anthem during protest against plans to build a state-funded mosque in Athens. Video by @pgiannakouris STORY: https://t.co/wZq6SG4IDN pic.twitter.com/ku9RdgHLFC

— The Associated Press (@AP) September 6, 2018

🔹If you're not concerned about the Rise of the #FarRight you should be!

Several hundred supporters of Greece's extreme right #GoldenDawn party staged a protest central Athens on Wednesday against plans to build a statefunded mosque in the capital.https://t.co/1fUlCjysz0

— Alia Batuba (@Sister_Alia) September 6, 2018

Turkish invaders converted the Parthenon – the iconic monument that overlooks Athens – into a mosque in the 15th century.

The mosque elements were demolished when independent Greece regained control of Athens in 1832. pic.twitter.com/DVzTBuc4xR

— The Indian Interest (@IndianInterest) November 26, 2017

The only capital city without a mosque is finally in its last stages of building one- Athens! https://t.co/nkf23QxemW pic.twitter.com/ISbDxCfLMS

— Imams Online (@ImamsOnline) September 20, 2018

Athens is the last European capital to build a mosque

— PFFT_GIRL (@PFFT_GIRL) September 18, 2018

One of the rare paintings, (ca. 1830's) of the Parthenon, Athens to include the Ottoman mosque. By French artist, Jean Pierre Eugène Félicien Peytier. pic.twitter.com/VjZ5V6qz6w

— Turkey_Pics 🇹🇷 (@Turkey_Pics) March 16, 2018

https://twitter.com/search?q=athens%20mosque&src=typd

Amaliah made a short video about it here:

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Greece is about to get its first ever official mosque! – Athens is the last European city to get an official mosque for their Muslim community. – The state funded mosque has faced protests by the far-right in Greece, but the mosque is a welcome arrival for many who, up until now have been praying in makeshift structures. – Amaliah made a short video about it, and you can swipe up on our Amaliah stories to read Amaliah’s article on the new mosque. – Beats – Ryan Little

A post shared by A M A L I A H (@amaliah_com) on Oct 4, 2018 at 10:41am PDT