Komotini

A court in northern Greece has convicted a Syrian refugee of having been a fighter with the Islamic State group in Syria, and sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment.

The Komotini court acquitted the man Monday of murder and explosives-related charges concerning his alleged activities with the group, his lawyer said.

Parliament voted legislation on Tuesday that limits the influence of Islamic Sharia law courts in the region of Thrace in northeastern Greece, which is home to some 100,000 Greek Muslims. 

The bill was submitted to Parliament on Tuesday after a complaint was filed by a Muslim woman in the town of Komotini, regarding an inheritance dispute, with Europe's Court of Human Rights.

Lawmakers in Greece are set to limit the powers of Islamic courts which operate in a border region that is home to a 100,000-strong Muslim minority, acting in response to a European court complaint.

The Komotini administrative court lent tobacco company SEKAP some breathing space on Friday, putting off its definitive decision regarding the firm's 38.2-million-euro fine until January 17.

The likely bankruptcy of tobacco company SEKAP is to be decided at the administrative court of Komotini, northeastern Greece, at noon on Friday, following the company's decision on Thursday to stop paying its dues if the verdict does not go its way.

Greek tobacco industry SEKAP is on Thursday likely to decide to go bankrupt at an extraordinary board meeting it called following a court verdict on past debts.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit thankfully came to a close Friday afternoon without further incident after a tough first day in Athens.

That said, during his visit to the Muslim community of Komotini in the Greek region of Thrace, Erdogan addressed the crowds gathered outside a local school, something which had not been agreed with the Greek authorities.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed Greek Muslims as fellow nationals at an impromptu speech he delivered at the Celal Bayar Muslim community school at the northeastern town of Komotini on Friday afternoon.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was warmly received at the Celal Bayar school of the Muslim community of Komotini, following his attending Friday prayers at a mosque in the northeastern Greek town.

Although the crowd gathered under strict policing measures was smaller then expected, it greeted the AKP leader with fervor, chanting his name and "you are great."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan began the second and final day of his official visit to Greece on Friday with a trip from Athens to Alexandroupoli in Greece's northeastern tip and then to neighboring Komotini in Western Thrace.

His reception by Muslim Greeks at Komotini was more low-key than anticipated, and the Turkish statesman made no statements in the morning.