Source: The Telegraph
On April 16, 2004 The Telegraph reported, "Greece's new government has approved plans for Athens's first mosque since the fall of Ottoman rule almost two centuries ago. A plan for an Islamic centre just north of the city has long been dogged by controversy, as local people and representatives of the Greek Orthodox Church campaigned fiercely against it. Despite that resistance, officials of the conservative government voted into power last month have confirmed that they have given the green light for the mosque, which is to be financed by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. At present Athens is the only capital in the European Union without a mosque although there are estimated to be tens of thousands of Muslim immigrants in the city."