A mosque according to the German model

In Eleonas district of Athens the construction of a mosque that has been the subject of heated debate for thirty years is now nearing completion. The Greek daily Ta Nea discusses the mosque's organisational model, which is based on the German model. "The German model requires that religious teachers teach the Koran in the German language. 'We want the sermon and the ceremony to be held mostly in Greek', a functionary of the ministry of education has asserted. He added that the ministry is covering the costs for eleven Greek Muslims to travel to Mecca and attend Al Azar Islamic University in Cairo to receive training as imams. According to Nazin Rasaa, secretary general of the Association of Muslims, the association has requested that the imam must be a graduate of Al Azir University, and the Greek ministry of education will comply with this as it wants avoid appointing a foreign imam."

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