A court in Thessaloniki on Monday handed suspended seven-month prison sentences to two Muslim clerics after they took over prayers at a funeral service from a state-appointed preacher.

The two men were found guilty of disturbing a religious ceremony and usurping authority but their terms were suspended and they were released.

Greek law dictates the state appointment of Muslim religious officials but many Muslim communities use a parallel structure.

The funeral occurred in the summer of last year in the village of Glafki, near Xanthi, after a 19-year-old army conscript died in a swimming accident.

Five busloads of villagers traveled to the courthouse.