Thousands of Muslims celebrated Eid al—Fitr in central Athens on Friday, in the first such gathering permitted by authorities in the only European capital without an official mosque.
The Greek government has repeatedly set aside plans for the construction of a mosque and Muslim cemetery in the city of five million people.
As a result, Muslims living in Greece have established around 150 illegal places of worship, according to the President of the Muslim Union of Greece Naim Elgantur. Many are housed in tiny cellars.
An estimated 300,000 Muslims from various countries in North African and the Middle East, and Pakistan reside in and around Athens.
Friday marked the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
