Athens: Muslims mark Eid with outdoor prayers (UPDATE: Muslims harassed)

Athens: Muslims mark Eid with outdoor prayers



Via M&C:
Thousands of Muslim immigrants gathered for outdoor prayer services across Athens on Tuesday to mark the festival of Eid-al-Adha.

Dozens of riot police were deployed in the city centre to protect the immigrants from attacks by extreme right-wing demonstrators who tried to disrupt the prayers.

Reports said a handful of protesters threw eggs at the group of faithful in central Athens before police intervened early on Tuesday.

(more)



Update:

Via FaithWorld:

While the Muslims prayed, some locals shouted obscenities from their balconies and waved Greek flags. Leaflets that depicted pigs — an animal Muslims consider unclean — were scattered across the square.



(Photo: Muslim immigrants pray near a leaflet thrown by extremists to insult their religion, during Eid al-Adha celebrations in central Athens November 16, 2010/Yannis Behrakis)

“There is a (unofficial) mosque near here but we’re afraid to go there,” said a 30-year old migrant from Bangladesh, who gave his name as Shamasul. “Sometimes Greeks in the neighborhood threaten to kill us.”