Anna Stamou is a mother of two, a caring wife and author of a book. From her looks, she is just another European woman. Yet she is the only Greek female to have been honoured by the European Network of Muslim Entrepreneurs (CEDAR).

Born to a Christian family in Athens, Stamou was always seeking answers for her inner philosophical quests. Coincidently she crossed path with Naim Elghandour, an Egyptian origin Greek citizen living in Greece since 1974. Stamou and Elghandour got married, thus began a process of closer contact with Islam.

“I simply found an answer for many questions I had,” she says. Six years ago after converting to Islam, she realised the difficulties a Muslim in Greece faces.

Monastiraki square with view of the old mosque and the Acropolis Church. – Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

Another view of old Mosque in Athens. The mosque is true reflection architecture in neighboring Turkey. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

A view of Mitropolis, the main church in Athens, capital of Greece. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

A poster guides newly converted Muslims and children about various postures and stages of prayer. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

A poster meant to educate newly-converted Muslims and children about various postures and stages of prayer. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

Inside view of a small store where tin-packed Muslim (halal) food is available for sale. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

Stamou and her Husband pose for a photo after seminar in Athens, Greece. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

Stamou along with other guests debating hijab and Islam at a seminar organized in Athens, Greece. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

Stamou poses for camera with a banner of the Muslim Association of Greece in the backdrop. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

Stamou with her husnand and her son. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

Monastiraki square with view of the old mosque and the Acropolis Church. – Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

Another view of old Mosque in Athens. The mosque is true reflection architecture in neighboring Turkey. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

A view of Mitropolis, the main church in Athens, capital of Greece. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

A poster guides newly converted Muslims and children about various postures and stages of prayer. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

A poster meant to educate newly-converted Muslims and children about various postures and stages of prayer. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

Inside view of a small store where tin-packed Muslim (halal) food is available for sale. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

Stamou and her Husband pose for a photo after seminar in Athens, Greece. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

Stamou along with other guests debating hijab and Islam at a seminar organized in Athens, Greece. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

Stamou poses for camera with a banner of the Muslim Association of Greece in the backdrop. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

Stamou with her husnand and her son. - Photo by Kalliopi Bakogianni

The couple created the Muslim Association of Greece, a non-profit organisation, in 2003 to promote a positive image of Muslims in Greece.

Stamou points out that Muslims in Attica have two main problems: the absence of a mosque and cemetery.

The Muslim population in Greece has been steadily rising over the past years, which is now estimated at 700,000. The country gets its share of immigrants, predominantly from Arabic speaking nations but from other Muslim countries as well. Like Stamou, many Greek nationals convert to Islam too.

Absence of an official prayer place for Muslims led to establishment of a private mosque. Soon other followed the suit. Muslims turned garages, underground basement flats, shops and unused rooms across Athens into mosques.

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