Bangladeshi Faces Deportation from Athens After Arrest Over Unlicensed Mosque

(ATHENS, GREECE) — A key right for non-citizens facing deportation is the right to notice of the case against them and a fair chance to contest removal with legal help, including access to counsel (at their own expense) and an interpreter when needed.

This guide explains that right in practical terms, using the widely reported Athens case involving a Bangladeshi national and an alleged unlicensed mosque as the real-world backdrop. It also flags how similar “basic fairness” principles show up in U.S. and UK immigration systems—without treating those systems as interchangeable.

1) Incident Snapshot: Bangladeshi national in Athens and the illegal mosque case

Greek authorities in Athens reportedly arrested a Bangladeshi national after allegations that he was operating an unlicensed place of worship in the Agios Nikolaos area. Reports say police sealed the premises after a local complaint.

The immigration consequence was immediate and notable. Authorities reportedly moved toward deportation quickly, and the case was described as the first use of a newer legal provision linking unauthorized religious sites to immigration status consequences.

• The incident took place in Athens, with enforcement tied to alleged operation of an unauthorized worship space.
• The individual reportedly faced an immigration posture described as no voluntary-departure window, meaning little or no time to leave on his own.

The enforcement date shown in the Effective Date Badge is February 3, 2026.

Warning: “No voluntary departure” language often signals an accelerated timeline. If someone is detained, families may have only days—not weeks—to locate a lawyer and gather documents.

2) Legal Basis and Enforcement Details (Greece)

The cited legal hook

The reported legal basis was Article 28 of Law 5224/2025, described as authorizing both: (1) criminal penalties for operating a place of worship without a permit (fines and possible imprisonment), and (2) immigration consequences for foreign nationals, including residence-permit revocation and removal steps.

In systems like Greece’s, these are often two parallel tracks:

• Criminal / public-order track: investigation, charges, court process, and any sentence.
• Immigration / status track: administrative actions like revocation of a residence permit, followed by detention and a removal order.

A criminal allegation can speed up immigration actions even before final criminal outcomes, depending on the statute and the agency’s authority.

How revocation and removal typically connect

While each case turns on facts and local procedure, the reported mechanics usually follow a pattern:

1. Revocation decision. The state cancels or voids a foreign national’s residence authorization based on a statutory trigger.
2. Custody / detention. The person may be held to secure removal or prevent absconding.
3. Removal order and execution. The government issues and carries out the removal decision, sometimes on a fast schedule.

What “no voluntary departure” generally implies

“Voluntary departure” is a concept used in many countries, though details differ. In general terms, it means a period in which a person can depart without forced removal. When authorities state there is no voluntary-departure window, it often means:

• removal may occur quickly after detention or a final administrative step, and
• there may be fewer opportunities to arrange travel, stabilize housing, or consult counsel.

The exact effective/enforcement date displayed in the tool is February 3, 2026.

Deadline Alert: In fast-track removal settings, appeal or review deadlines may run from the date a written decision is served. Ask for the decision in writing and note the service date.

3) Official Greek Authorities’ Statements

Greek officials framed the Athens incident as part of a broader campaign against unauthorized religious sites. Immigration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris, speaking in a parliamentary committee setting on February 3, 2026, was reported as describing a nationwide crackdown approach and linking closures of unauthorized worship spaces with revocations of immigration documentation for those operating them.

Authorities also reportedly signaled an intent to use summary or accelerated procedures for residence-permit revocations where officials conclude a foreign national is tied to an unauthorized site.

Keep separate:

• Case-specific reporting describes a particular arrest, sealing of a premises, and a rapid removal posture in Athens.
• Policy framing indicates an enforcement priority that may extend to other areas and other communities.

4) U.S. Government Context (DHS/USCIS) in Early 2026 — and why it does not control Greece

The Athens case is governed by Greek law and Greek procedure. Still, many readers ask how similar issues are treated in the United States, especially where religion and immigration intersect.

U.S. religious-worker facilitation (R-1 context)

In the United States, religious worker visas are addressed through INA § 101(a)(15)(R) and related regulations at 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(r). In that structure, the government may recognize religious work as a lawful basis for a temporary visa, while also scrutinizing eligibility and compliance.

DHS messaging in mid-January 2026 was described as stressing protecting religious expression while maintaining oversight for formal religious-worker pathways.

Contemporaneous U.S. enforcement rhetoric

Separately, U.S. immigration enforcement is carried out by DHS and litigated in EOIR immigration courts, with review by the BIA and federal courts. U.S. enforcement messaging in early February 2026 was described as emphasizing compliance with law and policy priorities.

Do not transpose U.S. rules onto Greece

Even when themes sound similar, the systems are different:

• Different laws: U.S. immigration consequences flow from the INA and federal regulations. Greece uses its own statutes and administrative rules.
• Different procedures: The U.S. has formal immigration court proceedings for removal. Greece may use administrative revocation processes with different review paths.
• Different rights packaging: U.S. “due process” claims often reference the Fifth Amendment and extensive case law. Greece’s protections may arise from Greek constitutional and administrative law and European human-rights frameworks.

If you are dealing with a Greek removal matter, a Greek lawyer is the correct starting point. If you are dealing with a U.S. removal matter, consult a U.S. immigration attorney.

5) Context, Significance, and Policy Implications

Why the Athens case matters

The reported Athens enforcement was described as a shift: from treating unauthorized worship spaces mainly as zoning or misdemeanor-style issues to treating them as triggers for status loss and deportation.

That shift changes risk calculations for non-citizens:

• A fine or local closure order can become a residence-permit revocation.
• Revocation can become detention and removal, sometimes quickly.
• Communities may fear that ordinary religious gatherings could be recast as licensing violations, depending on how broadly rules are applied.

State-run alternatives and political framing

Greek authorities reportedly pointed to the existence of an officially authorized mosque in Votanikos as reducing any practical need for informal sites. In policy debates, that argument is often used to justify stricter enforcement, on the theory that lawful alternatives exist.

Whether that fully addresses access, capacity, geography, language, or community trust is a separate question that can be raised in public debate or litigation. Those arguments are fact-specific.

Human-rights critiques and oversight concerns

The material referenced criticism from civil-society observers, including concerns about broad ministerial discretion and proportionality when immigration status is revoked quickly.

Readers should recognize two realities at once:

• Governments often have legal authority to regulate permits and immigration status.
• Fast-track revocations can raise fairness concerns, especially when timelines limit access to counsel, translation, and evidence gathering.

Warning: “Summary” procedures can compress timelines. If you or a family member is at risk, start collecting documents immediately (ID, permits, lease, payslips, medical records, school records, and any prior immigration decisions).

6) Impact on the Individual: what typically happens next (and what to save)

Public reporting described two outcomes for the Bangladeshi man in Athens: a criminal sentence tied to operating without a permit, and a transfer to immigration custody for deportation.

Because some personal history details are not verified, do not assume facts about his prior status beyond what is reported.

Two tracks that can interact

Criminal penalties and immigration removal are separate outcomes. Still, one can trigger the other. A conviction, guilty plea, or even certain police reports may be used by immigration authorities as grounds for revocation or detention, depending on the statute.

What “transfer to immigration custody” commonly means

In many systems, “transfer” means the person moves from local police or criminal custody into an immigration detention setting. Practical consequences often include restricted access to phones and documents, difficulty contacting family, fast scheduling for interviews or administrative steps, and increased pressure to sign paperwork without full explanation.

Removal without voluntary departure: downstream effects

When removal happens quickly, families have less time to retrieve belongings and close housing arrangements, employers may terminate employment for no-show absences, future travel can become harder, and re-entry restrictions may apply under local law.

Even where a “permanent ban” is reported, the actual length and legal basis of any re-entry bar can vary. It may depend on the revocation order, removal decision, and any later appeal outcomes.

Housing and practical survival steps (especially relevant for migrants)

Detention and abrupt deportation often create housing emergencies. Practical steps that may help in many countries include asking a trusted person to secure your lease, keys, and personal documents, notifying a landlord in writing if you cannot access the unit due to detention, and helping family members with rent continuity or alternative accommodation.

For readers in the UK, housing instability can intersect with immigration status. Local councils may have duties toward certain homeless applicants, but eligibility can be restricted by immigration status. Check official guidance on GOV.UK and seek UK-qualified advice.

The right in practice: how to exercise it (Greece, U.S., and UK quick comparisons)

In Greece (general, not case-specific)

1. Ask for an interpreter. If you do not read Greek well, request interpretation.
2. Request the written decision. Obtain the revocation notice, detention order, and removal decision in writing.
3. Do not sign what you do not understand. Ask for a translation first.
4. Contact a lawyer immediately. Ask about deadlines for administrative review or court challenges.
5. Preserve evidence. Keep permit applications, community letters, proof of address, and any documents showing lawful status.

In the United States (for readers who need U.S. rights basics)

In U.S. removal proceedings, noncitizens typically have the right to a hearing before an immigration judge (with exceptions), under INA § 240, the privilege of being represented by counsel at no expense to the government, under INA § 292, and procedural due process protections under the Fifth Amendment.

If arrested by ICE, ask for a lawyer, do not sign papers you do not understand, and ask for a bond hearing where eligible. Official starting points include EOIR and USCIS pages:

• EOIR
• USCIS

In the UK (high-level only)

UK immigration enforcement and appeals follow UK statutes and tribunal procedure. Many decisions carry a right of appeal or administrative review, depending on the category. For official information, start on GOV.UK.

If your rights are violated: steps that often help

1. Write down the timeline. Record who, what, where, when.
2. Get names and badge numbers. Collect identifying information where possible.
3. Request records. Ask for detention orders, decision notices, and custody logs.
4. Seek legal help quickly. Fast-track processes reward speed and documentation.
5. Contact your consulate. Consular access rules vary, but consular assistance can help with identity documents and family contact.

Legal help resources (starting points)

• AILA Lawyer Referral (U.S. immigration attorneys)
• EOIR Immigration Court information (U.S.)
• USCIS (U.S. benefits and status information)