Orthodox Easter this year falls on April 19, within the period of the suspension of daily services and sacraments, which goes until at least April 27. Some mosques, however, are still open. This is in keeping with the Qur’anic idea that the Muslims are the “best of people” (3:110) and the unbelievers are “the most vile of created beings” (98:6). The best of people should as a matter of course enjoy more rights than the most vile of created beings.
“When Christians cannot go to church for Easter, Mosques still operate in Greece (VIDEOS),” by Paul Antonopoulos, Greek City Times, April 10, 2020:
With the coronavirus pandemic running rife across the world, the Greek state took immediate actions to prevent the virus from becoming out of control in Greece. The results of their actions are immediately seen – 1,955 cases and 87 deaths, a far cry from many of their European counterparts suffering from the virus and Greece receiving praise for its efforts, as reported by Greek City Times.
However, as part of the efforts to contain the virus, Greece had to suspend daily services and sacraments in the Greek Orthodox Churches until at least April 27 when an evaluation of lockdowns will take place. This means that Greeks will not be celebrating Easter on April 19.
This was a painful reality that Greeks will not be celebrating the most holiest of days on the calendar but a necessary one so that Greece can overcome the pandemic.
As seen in the video though, there are three recent instances when mosques are still operating in Greece in defiance of the lockdown laws.
The first clip in the above video is from Komotini, one of the main towns for the Muslim minority in Western Thrace, showing a mosque operating, and as the video taker says, “this is when our Churches are closed.”
On March 25, another incident took place in the Cretan town of Ierapetra. A mosque can clearly be heard while the police stand on the outside of it doing nothing, while in other parts of Greece people are being fined for breaking the lockdown laws. This is the second clip in the above video.
Then, on the same day that Qatari state-owned Al-Jazeera released a film that alleged Greece’s human rights abuses against the Muslim minority in Western Thrace, a film that has already been debunked by Greek City Times, a video emerged on YouTube showing that mosques are defying the lockdown laws. It is seen as the third on Greek City Times’ compilation seen above.
These instances put a mockery to Al-Jazeera’s claims that the Muslims of Greece live in suppression by the state when they defy Greece’s laws to operate with no repercussions while churches remain closed over Easter.
Greece closed down all religious institutions on March 16 as part of its efforts to prevent mass gatherings and slowdown the spread of coronavirus. It is a shame though that some of the minorities are defying these laws when Greece is fighting to overcome the pandemic before summer begins.
Boromir's Horn says
We’re seeing a police state mentality from anti religious mayors here in the U.S. Some churches have gone out of there way to abide by the social distancing guidelines by having parishioners stay in their car with windows rolled up and the police have shut them down. AG Barr is rightfully concerned about this singling out of religious organizations and may need to get the DOJ involved.
Meanwhile, mosque parking lots have been peacefully filled without interference.
somehistory says
Yes, and in Mississippi, each person in their car was given a ticket..$500.00 fine…in the parking lot where they were listening on their car radios.
They were told they should have listened over their computers, but the majority are elderly and do not own computers. Besides, sitting in their cars listening is not ‘dangerous’ to their health as much as going to the grocery store, so it isn’t all about the virus.
GreekEmpress says
Boromir’s Horn,
Best wishes to you on this day. Hope you are safe. Have you seen mosques filling up where you live? Or do you have a link?
Would very much like to find out where this is happening.
Boromir's Horn says
In my little world, the local police are more interested in chasing golfers with plaid pants and paisley shirts. The fascinating thing is the reporters are all over the Christianity angle while the mosque’s get a drive by. But I guess that’s to be expected in today’s climate of what I call head-fake news
Jayell says
“Greece: Christians cannot go to church for Easter on April 19, but mosques still operating”…..and the same has been true here in the UK, and no doubt elsewhere in Europe, USA and Australia, etc., etc.. And usually the media cover these things up or/and vehemently deny them if anyone exposes them. Strange, though, that there has been a recent spike in Coronavirus cases in parts of the UK midlands known to be (shall we say) ‘not particularly Christian’? Obviously a coincidence!
Hank Mansfield says
But Christians are much better at compromising when science and faith clash, they care whether or not their actions harm others and they aren’t known to spazz out and riot at the drop of a hat.
This was unexpected?
Honest Ali says
Exactly. Governments around the world are simply proving that they are terrified of Muslims… and will do anything to appease them. Is it any wonder that the Muslims are winning when the non-Muslims capitulate without a fight?
Hank Mansfield says
Christians can let the Muslims lick the doorknobs of their mosque all they want, far as I’m concerned, and avoid them as much as possible (like usual).
If Western-style democracy is to survive, however, Christians need to start making a lot more little Christians. Then they need to show up for elections and punish the politicians who excuse or allow this to happen.
“Demographics is destiny” is a famous quote in politics.
Kepha says
I, for one, am not so sure that “science” demands the closure of churches.
Yes, COVID-19 is virulent and dangerous, especially to a sick old geezer like me. But our spring mortality rates have not been that much higher than in times past, and seem all the worst because if COVID-19 is found in a fatality, it’s listed as cause of death, even if other potentially fatal conditions were present in the patient.
Further, we probably need exposure to get our anitbodies and immune systems kicking in.
somehistory says
Like the guy who sky-dived without a parachute and cause of death was the virus. One report I read last night stated that the number of deaths from the virus is inflated, and those inflating, admitted to it.
With every other flu season, we all took our chances being out and about and getting a mild case helped to avoid a worse one. I keep reading comments by bill gates and a few others who are all in favor of vaccines, to the effect that the lockdown, house arrests, should continue until there is a vaccine for this virus. And even doctors have admitted that the flu vaccines can’t really prevent many cases because they never know which strain is circulating at any given time, so they just guess which vaccine to push each season.
As Hardy always said to Laurel, “This is a fine mess you’ve gotten us into.”
Brian Hoff says
This illness is not really dangerous. The Black Death of 14 the century that hit China Mogin Empire India South East Asia Center Asia Middle East Arricej kill 200 million people out of than global population of 500 million . It also hit Europe too. It if hit again and our antibiotic and vaccine against the plague donot work people will be dropping like fly with hundred of million death with 3.2 billion dead at the end.
gravenimage says
So “Brian Hoff”–really, “DefenderofIslam”–is fine with any pandemic so long as it is not as deadly as was the horrifying Black Death?
I guess this is what adherence to Islam will do to you. Muslims really do love death…
ELI says
Terrible; surely you will also condemn similar behaviour by non-Muslims in your own country?
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/nyregion/coronavirus-rockland-monsey-jews.html
No? why not? oh because they’re not Muslims? ah got it, so it’s only bad when Muslims do it.
Honest Ali says
Jews don’t murder people to get into heaven, moron.
ELI says
Ah right, by keeping the mosques open they are murdering people.
Clearly an intelligent statement from your point of view but then again what do you have apart from insults?
ELI says
At least Honest Ali is as it were honest. He does not care if non-Muslims defy safety measures. Somehow the coronavirus spreads differently or does not even spread when non-Muslims are involved. By keeping a few mosques open Muslims are engaging in corona jihad. By keeping synagogues open, jews are not doing anything wrong.
This is so far beyond hypocrisy, it’s ridiculous.
gravenimage says
I have asked ELI over a dozen times now if he will say anything critical about Jihad terror. That he consistently refuses to do so is very telling.
mortimer says
No, ELI, human rights abuses are always wrong. You are projecting YOUR OWN bigotry on civilized people like us. The counterjihad is a human rights movement.
We disagree with Mohammed’s hygiene principles. Mohammed ABSURDLY insisted that 1) camel urine is medicine 2) diseases are *NOT* contagious (‘transitive’) 3) water wells with dead dogs, menstrual rags, and feces in them are *PURE AND NOTHING IMPURIFIES IT*.
Mohammed believed that such water (3) was suitable for WUDU …. namely, washing your face and ears, swishing in your mouth, snorting up your nostrils.
Let’s see you do that, ELI. Show your Islamic faith. Drink some camel urine.
ELI says
That may be true but how does that change what I said. Is there an objective difference if a Mosque and Church of Synagogue stay open right now? why the selective outrage?
btw Muslims wash their hands five times a day so they;re doing at least one thing right. Or is that evil too?
gravenimage says
Of course, Jihad Watch is not advocating attending Churches or Synagogues now, either–what crap.
Jim says
“These instances put a mockery to Al-Jazeera’s claims that the Muslims of Greece live in suppression by the state when they defy Greece’s laws to operate with no repercussions while churches remain closed over Easter.”
How about Greeks who live in Turkey? They have suffered indescribable torments and indignities at the hands of Muslims FOR CENTURIES. Asking that Mosques close temporarily due to a pandemic pales in comparison.
mortimer says
George Orwell — ‘All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.’ … from Animal Farm by George Orwell
Super-spreaders.
comradewhoopie says
What’s the problem? Let the Moslem menace infect each other.
Jack Holan says
No different than DeBlasio’s Kingdom however the Greeks are being clever. Let those who would destroy you annihilate themselves
Charlie says
You stole my thunder:-) Maybe we should have this practice world-wide:-)
Kepha says
The Greek official responsible is named Odysseos Ithaki
gravenimage says
Muslims are not isolated in Greece. If they are spreading the virus to each other they will also spread it to Infidels.
somehistory says
If moslims refuse to abide by the laws of a given country…and they do…and the government allows the refusal to stand, there are possibly a number of reasons. 1, which applies generally: they don’t wish to deal with the rioting and getting people injured or killed…and in this case, sick from breathing the same air as the moslims. and 2, no lawsuits over the infamous and fake “phobia” charges, and 3. let them meet, and greet and kiss if they wish as it will eliminate some of the lawbreakers.
In the old western towns, like Dodge and Tombstone, the general population obeyed the law and the marshal just made them feel ‘secure’ from the would-be criminal bank robbers and stage holders-up. But, the bank robbers and those who held up stages…weren’t afraid to break the law, didn’t need to feel secure, and met a demise when the marshal showed up with loaded guns. Not as many trials back then.
Times have changed and the moslims basically do as they please…until croaking from a bullet or in this case, a virus. If the virus wipes out a large number, no need for fines, jail or trials for breaking laws.
b.a. freeman says
well, since the ummah in greece won’t isolate itself, it is in essence serving as a laboratory to figure out what the *real* rate of infection is, and what the real mortality rate is. it’s a good thing that the ummah is so much better than we are; it’s just too bad that our betters who are ruling over us aren’t doing the same thing!
gravenimage says
Greece: Christians cannot go to church for Easter on April 19, but mosques still operating
…………….
Greece needs to shut these mosques down.
European pagan says
Yesterday we saw a muslim sitting on a chair at his mosque, and maybe inside the building there were other persons too. Churches are closed.
somehistory says
A.G. Barr is looking into this in the States to see if there is discrimination against the churches.