Hundreds of Muslims marched through central Athens on Sunday, 30 August 2026, to mark Milad un-Nabi, the anniversary of the birth of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. Participants, many dressed in white, carried green and light-blue flags, banners with Arabic inscriptions, and images of the green dome of the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.
Videos circulating on social media show the procession moving past neoclassical buildings and shops while religious chants and slogans were recited.
Pakistanis and other South Asian Muslims took over Omonia Square in Athens on Sunday to celebrate Milad un-Nabi, the birth of Muhammad, the founder of Islam.
Αλλάξτε το όνομα της Πρωτεύουσας της 🇬🇷 και κάντε το Αθηναμπάντ!
Πακιστανοί που γιορτάζουν την Eid-Milad-un-Nabi την γέννηση του προφήτη τους Μωάμεθ με επίδειξη ισχύος για ακόμη μία φορά στο κέντρο του Αθηναμπάντ!
Με την προβιά της Μετανάστευσης, “πόλεμο χωρίς όπλα” δεν…
At the head of the column were officials of Dawat-e-Islami together with Javed Aslam, president of the Pakistani Community of Greece “Unity,” according to Directus. Particular attention has been paid to the organization’s flags and symbols.
Dawat-e-Islami is an international Islamic missionary movement founded in Pakistan in 1981 by Maulana Ilyas Attar Qadri and belonging to the Barelvi-Sufi current of Sunni Islam. It maintains religious and educational centers in many countries, including four in Athens and roughly a dozen across Greece.
Marchers repeatedly chanted “Labaik Allahuma Labaik, la sharika,” an expression of exclusive devotion to God. Footage of the event was also broadcast by media in Pakistan, highlighting the public celebration in the Greek capital.
Θρησκευτική πομπή των Πακιστανών σήμερα στο κέντρο της Αθήνας για το Milad un-Nabi, τη γέννηση Μωάμεθ, όπως κάθε χρόνο.
Milad un-Nabi (also called Eid Milad-un-Nabi) is widely observed among Barelvi Sunni and certain Sufi communities. Typical events include processions, public prayers, recitations, and speeches about Muhammad’s life. Comparable marches take place annually in Pakistan and in European cities with sizable Muslim populations of South Asian origin. Similar gatherings have been organized in Athens in previous years.
Dawat-e-Islami describes itself as a non-political, non-violent religious movement focused on preaching and education. However, it is an extremist Islamist organization and their followers have been linked to killings, armed attacks, and terrorist acts.
The central question raised is the organized public display of a transnational Islamic network’s symbols on major streets in the capital. mpetent authorities have been asked to provide clear answers on both the circumstances of this year’s Milad un-Nabi procession and Dawat-e-Islami’s activities in the country.
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Paul Antonopoulos
Paul Antonopoulos writes on Greek and international current affairs for Greek City Times, with a focus on Turkey, Cyprus, and the wider region.
