The Muslims of Greece

Abstract

The presence of Islam in Greece is represented by native (autochthonous) Muslims, who have been living in territories that formed part of modern Greece since Ottoman times, and by Muslim immigrants and refugees who have come to Greece from war-torn and economically underdeveloped or impoverished areas around the globe. This immigration dates mostly from the start of the post–Cold War period in the last quarter of the twentieth century. Some come to Greece in search of work and better living conditions or to use Greece as a transit point to northwestern EU countries. This chapter analyzes the attitudes and policies of the Greek state with regard to Muslims in Greece. Emphasis is given to native Muslims, with a brief discussion of Muslim immigrants and refugees in the last section of the chapter.