For the first time since the 19th century, Athens on Tuesday witnessed the inauguration of an official mosque, as years of efforts by the Muslim community finally paid off.

The move has finally shaken off the city's status as the only European capital with no mosque, a status that was criticized by Muslims around the world.

The mosque’s first imam is Zaki Mohammed, 49, a Greek citizen of Moroccan origin, Greek daily Ekathimerini said.

The mosque’s inaugural prayers were held under social distancing measures due to rising COVID-19 cases in Greece, as in much of Europe.

Until today, the half-million Muslim faithful in the city had to resort to houses to meet and perform prayers, Ibrahim Serif, the elected mufti of Komotini (Gumulcine) in Western Thrace, told Anadolu Agency.

Turkey has long decried Greek violations of the rights of its Muslim and Turkish minority, from closing down mosques and letting historic mosques fall into disrepair, to refusing to recognize Muslims’ election of their own muftis.

The vast majority of Greeks, 97 percent, are Orthodox Christians.

Source: Anadolu Agency