Pressure from the EU for a solution
The Greek government will have to find a solution soon, as pressure from the European Union is intensifying. The report presented a few days ago by the the human rights commissioner for the European Council, Alvaro Hill-Robles (before he left that post), was damning for Greece. He had documented the situation after his previous visit to Greece in 2002 and made specific recommendations. The commissioner says in his report that he is «deeply sorry that there has been no tangible progress in giving the significant number of the Muslim faithful in Athens appropriate and recognized places of worship.» As he noted, «the fact that Muslims are forced to meet in secret and in unsuitable places to pray has done anything but promote smooth relations among religious creeds in Greece.» And he concludes: «It is also regrettable that the practice is still being followed of asking the opinion of Orthodox archbishops on matters concerning the places of worship of all creeds.»
