In early February 2026, the Greek government launched a nationwide "sweep" operation aimed at identifying and closing all illegal places of worship operating without state approval.
Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, announced this "zero tolerance" policy during a parliamentary committee meeting, emphasizing that the rule applies to any religious facility, though much of the focus is on unofficial mosques in Athens.
Under this strict enforcement, any religious site functioning without a permit from the Ministry of Education will be immediately sealed by the police.
Furthermore, the government has mandated that foreign nationals responsible for operating these unauthorized spaces will have their residency documents revoked and face automatic deportation.
This crackdown follows a recent legal precedent in the Agios Nikolaos area of Athens, where a Bangladeshi national was deported for running an illegal prayer hall.
Officials maintain that while the law is technically faith-neutral, its primary goal is to ensure all religious activities align with national safety standards and constitutional law.
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