Greece Restricts Islamic Sharia Courts

Local Editor

As part of the growing western Islamophobia, the Greek parliament overwhelmingly voted to limit the power of Sharia courts among the Muslim minority, under the pretext of seeking greater equality for all citizens.

They were introduced a century ago in an agreement with Turkey after WWI.

On Tuesday, Greek MPs passed a new law under which the Muslim minority would no longer be bound by Sharia law. Under the old system, family disputes over inheritance, divorce and child custody would be settled by muftis and Islamic law scholars.

The bill gives priority to Greek courts, and was supported by all major parties except the far-right Golden Dawn, which said it wasn't clear what powers the Islamic courts would still maintain.

Today there are more than 110,000 Greek Muslims, according to various estimates, mostly concentrated in the eastern region of Thrace near the Turkish border.

The situation of Greek Muslims is closely watched by the Turkish government, which considers them Turks, although the community also includes Roma and the Bulgarian-speaking Pomaks.

During his visit to Athens in December, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Greece of not respecting its Muslim citizens.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team