(Anadolu) Greece is closing down one of the oldest Muslim prayer halls in the greater Athens metropolitan area.
Saying the facility lacks a license to operate, the Education and Religious Affairs Ministry gave a 15-day notice to clear the premises in Piraeus, a port city just 12 kilometers (seven miles) from the Athens city center.
“We are sad to announce that we received a closure order for one of the oldest prayer halls of the capital … without any chance of negotiating with the ministry,” said the Muslim Association of Greece in a press release.
The Al Andalus prayer hall has been operating since 1989, according to the association.
“We believe that acceptance and recognition is evolving in society,” said the press release.
