New Greek Law Enforced: Bangladeshi Faces Deportation for Operating Mosque in Athens
It marks the first application of the new provision: the unlicensed operation of places of worship not only carries criminal penalties but can also result in the revocation of residence permits.
The case began after a complaint, when police officers from the Agios Panteleimonas Police Station located the place of worship in the Agios Nikolaos area, in the Municipality of Athens.
The site was sealed off, and the Bangladeshi was sentenced to prison for operating a place of worship without a permit.
Immigration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris requested the immediate application of Article 28 of Law 5224/2025. Following this, a deportation order was issued with no deadline for voluntary departure, meaning no time was given to leave the country voluntarily.
The Ministry of Immigration and Asylum notes that immediate information has been requested regarding such incidents, with the aim of activating summary procedures to revoke residence permits.
Greek authorities want to send the message that unlicensed places of worship will no longer be tolerated.
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The case also highlights the broader issue of unlicensed places of worship in Attica. According to reports, the number of illegal places still operating in Athens is approaching 60, while earlier estimates, at the beginning of the last decade, even mentioned over 100 places – from basements and apartments to warehouses or parking lots – without basic specifications, such as ventilation or toilets.
This number has decreased in recent years, mainly due to the opening of the legal mosque in Votanikos.
Source: Greekcitytimes.com
