Islamic architecture

Suicide bomber killed at least 30 people in a Shiite mosque in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan this evening, a security official said on Monday, reports BBC.

This is another terrorist attack on the Shiite minority in the country.

The attacker invaded the "Imam Zaman" mosque in the western district of Dash-e-Barshi in Kabul, where Shiite worshipers had gathered for prayer.

A confidential report drafted by the Greek Police (ELAS) and seen by Kathimerini reveals that more than 80 makeshift mosques in the broader Athens area have come under surveillance.

The Education and Religious Affairs Ministry on Tuesday took another step toward establishing the capital's first official mosque, appointing a seven-member administrative council that is to oversee its operation.

The council will comprise two ministry officials, two City Hall representatives, two representatives of the capital's Muslim communities and a legal expert.

By Panagiotis Karampelas*

The Fethiye Mosque (Gr.: Φετιχιέ τζαμί) is located in Athens right under the Acropolis. After being used a storage for local ancient artifacts and fragments, it was decided by the Greek Ministry of Culture back in 2010 that it should be renovated and to be used for various cultural activities and of course be open to visitors.

Two people have performed prayers inside Istanbul's Hagia Sophia in order to protest its closure to prayers, comparing it to measures taken by Israeli forces at the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

The two identified as Halil Akyaman and Mahmut Alan arrived at the museum and suddenly began to pray inside.

Foreign ministers from Islamic countries will meet in Istanbul on August 1st to discuss the situation at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the Foreign Ministry announced on Friday, quoted by Daily Sabah.

Members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will hold an extraordinary meeting following a call from Ankara.

Palestinians were set to return to pray at a sensitive Jerusalem holy site on July 27 after Israeli authorities removed controversial new security measures, potentially ending a nearly two-week crisis that sparked deadly unrest.

The four-century-old Sultanahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, on Istanbul's historic peninsula, is slated to undergo a major restoration starting from next week, Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak has said.

British police on June 25 said they did not suspect terrorism was involved when a car ploughed into a group of Muslims leaving Eid prayers in Newcastle, northeast England.

Six people were hospitalized after a car crashed into pedestrians outside a sports center in Newcastle, but Northumberland police said "it is not believed to be a terror incident."

The Greek Foreign Ministry was swift in its response on Friday to comments by a nationalist Turkish politician suggesting that the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hagia Sophia should be transformed into a mosque.