A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| ~Greek Association For Human Rights~ |
|---|
| thezman |
| 07/07/05 at 12:03:10 |
| Bismillah [slm] Greek Association For Human Rights. Press Release. Athens, 24 February 2004 'Religious Marriages Forbidden To Muslims Of Thrace!' By decision of the Deputy Minister Mr. Lambros Papadimas (F.97920/201138/ 31.10.2003) the Celebration of Weddings in the Presence of the Mufti of Thrace is deemed Illegal in the case of the following: 1. a Muslim and a non Muslim. 2. a Greek Citizen and Foreigner. 3. Muslim not Resident in Thrace. In effect, this ruling makes it Impossible for Muslims living outside Thrace and Rhodes to Marry in Accordance with the Islamic Rites, since there are no serving Mufti's in other parts of Greece. The consequence is that a significant percentage of the Minority Population originating in Thrace but no longer resident there, as well as other Greek Muslims (most of them Naturalized Citizens) will not be able to Wed According to the Islamic Rites in Greece. At the same time, the confusion concerning the rules governing the Marriages of Foreign Muslims is rendered even more obscure. This prohibition will thus affect Tens of Thousands of Individuals. The Greek Association for Human Rights calls on the Government to revoke it's earlier decision, which Introduces Unconstitutional Curbs on Religious Freedom in respect of the Right to Choose a Spouse, as well as on the Free Movement of Individuals, given that under new dispensation a move outside Thrace will entail the loss of the Right to Celebrate an Islamic Wedding. The decision in question is an un-precedented encroachment on the private life and Religious Freedom of every Muslim. What is more, it will lead to Major Social Tensions in an area which more than any other requires responsible management by the Greek State. Finally, the Association believes that the Imposition of limitations (Regarding, Nationality, Place of Residence, or Religion) only on Weddings between Muslims, when no such limitations are envisaged in the Civil Code for Marriages between Orthodox or Catholic Christians, Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses or Adherents of other Religions or Dogmas, is a very poor reflection on the Nature of our Democracy. President. Demitris Christopoulos General Secretary. Yiannis Ktistakis Fi Amanillah Ziad. |
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