Works for the erection of an Islamic Mosque at Votanikos are expected to start within the next days. The Greek Navy had granted an abandoned building to this end, which will be converted into a religious site for thousands of Muslims currently residing in Athens. The building of the Mosque is estimated to cost 887,000 Euros to the Greek taxpayer. The request for erecting the Mosque had been submitted 33 years ago, but the project was mired in court appeals and red tape, delaying procedures. The main structure will be built on the base of the old Navy edifice with the surrounding areas designated for open spaces and green. Existing smaller structures around the main Mosque will be transformed into supporting buildings, while there will be no Minarets built for reasons of environmental harmony. The work is expected to be complete in six months. Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Amanatidis said the erection of the Mosque would put an end to the tarring of Greece’s image abroad, adding that it would ensure the best conditions for religious practices, a matter the Greek state places high value on. “It guarantees the right of all Greek citizens to exercise their religious duties, regardless of religious affiliations and in accordance to the Constitutional provisions of religious freedom”.