The mosque is expected to be the first thing spotted by visitors as they land at Athens airport

ATHENS, July 29 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Ashamed of being the only European capital with no mosque for Muslim citizens and immigrants, the Greek foreign ministry is pushing hard for the construction of the first proper mosque and an Islamic cultural center in Athens vicinity in almost 200 years.

"Not a single mosque has operated officially in the capital or its immediate surroundings since Greece gained its independence from the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th Century," the BBC News Online said Tuesday, July 29.

The small Greek town Peania, north of the capital, will become the focus for tens of thousands of Muslims living in the capital with the construction of the first proper mosque, reported the broadcast.

More than 30,000 square meters of land have been set aside for the large mosque compound which will be paid for by Saudi Arabia at an estimated cost of millions of dollars.

The grand mosque is expected to be built before the Olympics get under way in just over a year's time, putting the country under international spotlight.

Ambassadors representing Arab countries have been trying to coax the Greek Government into building a proper mosque for almost 30 years. They are now certain they have succeeded.

"All the preparations are complete," says Abdullah Abdullah, the Palestinian representative in Athens.

"The Greek Government gave its approval, the Arab side is ready for the construction and the Greek Church has given its blessing."

The growing number of Muslim immigrants in Athens from Albania, South Asia, Africa and the Middle-East pray at makeshift mosques which are not properly licensed.

Dozens of these mosques have been set up in the capital in apartments, shops and garages.

"It's a very bad situation, they are violating our human rights - we must have a right to practice our religion and it must be in a proper mosque," said Mohammed Ashad, a Pakistani immigrant.

Mohammed was speaking after completing his prayers at a basement-based mosque in the city center.

The room is too small for the busiest prayer-time of the week on Fridays when people spill out into the hall and down the stairs.

"It's very strange because Greece is inside the European Union and will be in the centre of Europe with the inclusion of 10 more countries; and yet there's no official mosque," he wondered.

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou admitted in a recent statement that "Athens is the only capital in the European Union without a mosque."

'Cultural Fears'

But the town council has rejected the plan, fearing the mosque, which would be built near the international airport, would be the first thing spotted by visitors as they land at Athens airport.

"This is a problem for us as the first impression visitors will have will be something not representative of Greek culture. They will feel they have arrived in a Muslim country," said Athens Mayor Paraskevas Apakostopoulos.

He has appealed to the courts to block the building of the mosque, arguing it is illegal to use the land for construction.

"Almost 100% of the population here is opposed to the mosque," he claimed. "We were never asked if we wanted it and this region is not suitable."

Officially the Greek Orthodox Church, which dominates the country's religious life, has said it does not oppose the new mosque.

But amongst the clergy in Peania there is a very different view.

"I cannot conceive of this mosque being built here," says parish priest Antonios Milakis.

"At the Islamic center they will train and ordain Muslims and they will try to convert people of other faiths," he claimed.

But ironically even the Muslims themselves are opposed to the mosque being built in Peania.

The town is 20 kilometers from the center of Athens and most say they will not be able to go there for their daily prayers as it is simply too far away.