Migration Minister Pledges Crackdown on ‘Illegal Mosques’ in Athens, Threatens Deportations
Athens, February 4 – Immigration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris has announced a “sweeping operation” to identify and seal “illegal mosques” in the municipality of Athens, coupled with the deportation of foreign nationals found to be operating them. The announcement was made during a meeting of parliament’s public administration committee, where a bill on “legal immigration” is currently under discussion.
Minister Cites Recent Deportation as Precedent
Plevris highlighted a recent case involving a Bangladeshi national whose residence permit was revoked after he was found operating an unlicensed place of worship in the Agios Nikolaos area of Athens. The case originated from a complaint, leading to police officers from the Agios Panteleimonas department locating and sealing the premises and arresting the individual. He was subsequently sentenced to prison for operating a place of worship without a permit.
Upon being informed of the case, Minister Plevris stated he ordered the immediate implementation of a new provision to ensure that such instances would not be limited to criminal penalties but would also carry immigration consequences. The ministry consequently revoked the man’s legal residence status and initiated the process of issuing a deportation order, which was reportedly carried out on the morning of the same day.
New Legal Provision Underpins Deportation Policy
This decision was based on Article 28 of Law 5224/2025, a new provision stipulating that operating a place of worship without the required permit can lead not only to criminal sanctions, including imprisonment or a fine, but also to the revocation of a residence permit for immigrants involved in operating such premises. In this specific case, a deportation order was issued without a deadline for voluntary departure.
The ministry has since confirmed that the Minister has requested immediate information on all similar cases and the use of expedited procedures to revoke residence permits for immigrants who operate unlicensed places of worship. It further stated that, alongside police and judicial proceedings, the “immigration aspect” will now be “automatically activated” in every such case.
“What happened in Agios Nikolaos will happen everywhere”
Minister Plevris emphatically declared, “What happened in Agios Nikolaos will happen everywhere. In all illegal mosques, with a parallel revocation of the legal documents of those who operate them. In collaboration with the relevant ministries, the illegal mosques will be sealed and those involved will be deported.” This statement underscores the government’s intent to enforce the new provision across the city.
The move signifies a stricter stance by the Greek government on the operation of religious establishments by foreign nationals, particularly those without proper authorization. The implementation of this policy is expected to lead to further actions against unlicensed places of worship and the deportation of individuals found to be in violation of the new law.
The announcement has sparked discussions within political and civil rights circles regarding the implications for religious freedom and immigration policy in Greece.
Source: The Press Project
