The south-eastern Spanish town of Jumilla in Murcia has become the first local authority in the country to ban the use of public facilities for Muslim religious festivals, including Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The measure was introduced by the conservative People’s party (PP) and passed with the abstention of the far-right Vox party and the opposition of local left-wing parties.
The approved proposal states that “municipal sports facilities cannot be used for religious, cultural or social activities alien to our identity unless organised by the local authority”. Vox celebrated the move on X, writing: “Thanks to Vox the first measure to ban Islamic festivals in Spain’s public spaces has been passed. Spain is and will be forever the land of Christian people.”
Mounir Benjelloun Andaloussi Azhari, president of the Spanish federation of Islamic organisations, told El País that the proposal was “Islamophobic and discriminatory”. He said: “They’re not going after other religions, they’re going after ours.” Referring to a recent rise in racist rhetoric and attacks, he added: “For the first time in 30 years I feel afraid.”
The decision is likely to face legal challenge as it appears to contravene article 16 of the Spanish constitution, which guarantees freedom of ideology, religion and worship for individuals and communities. Francisco Lucas, the socialist leader in Murcia, said on X: “The PP violates the constitution and puts social cohesion at risk simply in the pursuit of power.” Juana Guardiola, a former socialist mayor of Jumilla, questioned the rationale, asking: “What do they mean by identity? And what about the centuries of Muslim legacy here?”
Jumilla, which has a population of about 27,000, of whom 7.5% come from largely Muslim countries, has a deep historical connection to Islam. The town was part of the Roman empire and then the Visigothic kingdom before the Arab conquest in the eighth century. As Yumil-la, it remained a principally Arab town for centuries until it was attacked by Christian troops led by Alfonso X of Castile in the mid-13th century. An agreement allowed the Arab ruler to retain rights for the existing population, but after Alfonso’s death Castile invaded and ended Arab rule.
