DDHK News, Greece - A Muslim woman wearing a headscarf, Anna Stamou, became the first Muslim woman candidate to represent her country in the European Parliament elections. He hopes to prevent anti-Muslim discrimination and ensure equality for minorities.
"I will do everything in my power to ensure that Muslims do not think of themselves as a minority in Greece," said Stamou.
"I was nominated by the Greek Eco Green Party - an ecological political party that is a member of the European Greens party," said Anna Stamou, a former yoga teacher, to Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview, Wednesday (7/5).
Nominated from Greece Green party, Stamou is the first veiled nominee in the European Parliament (EP) elections on May 25.
Stamou is the first Muslim female candidate in the European Parliament election on May 25, 2014.
If elected, she will also become the first EU member of parliament to wear a headscarf.
The business management graduate who was once a yoga trainer became a politician after converting to Islam at the age of 30.
Stamou said he was born an Orthodox Christian but "found answers to his questions" in Islam after studying all religions for many years.
Candidates for Greece will compete for 21 seats in the European Parliament in the European elections on May 25, coinciding with regional elections in the country.
The number of seats allocated to Greece decreased from 22 to 21, as a result of the re-distribution of seats in the European Parliament in 2013.
"If I am elected ... I will fight for equal rights for Muslims and prevention of discrimination against Muslims," he said.
In addition, he confirmed his plan to work towards the recognition of Greek Muslims as citizens and fulfilling state responsibilities towards them.
A mosque in Athens, Europe's only capital without a mosque, is also a top priority.
Greek Muslims make up nearly 1,3 percent of Greece's 10,7 million total population. (mel / onislam.net / ddhongkong.org). *
