Greek authorities announced an operation to identify and close all illegal mosques in the Municipality of Athens, along with deporting the foreigners who operate them.

The Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, speaking about the operation of illegal mosques in Athens, said that "those who do not comply with Greek legislation will automatically be deported."

Speaking at the meeting of the parliamentary Public Administration Committee, where the bill on legal immigration is being discussed, he referred to the recent decision to revoke the legal residence permit of a Bangladeshi man because he was illegally operating a place of worship in the Agios Nikolaos area of the Municipality of Athens.

"What happened in Agios Nikolaos will happen everywhere," Plevris said. "All illegal places of worship will be shut down, with the parallel revocation of the legal documents of those who operate them. In cooperation with the relevant ministries, illegal mosques will be sealed and those involved will be deported."

The Bangladeshi national who received deportation orders for operating an illegal mosque marks the first application of the new provision: the illegal 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. 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.

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.

https://greekcitytimes.com/2026/02/04/greece-close-all-illegal-mosques/