Experts have described the ban on religious events by the Muslim community in the Spanish city of Jamila as Islamophobia
European Reporter, Daily Dawn, Dawn TV Report
Jamila: Religious events have been banned in public sports centers in the Spanish city of Jamila, where Muslims have been holding Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha gatherings for years.
According to the international news agency, the decision to ban was made by the local government of the conservative Popular Party, which was proposed by the far-right Vox party.
Spain’s far-right Vox party also called the decision to ban religious events a success in protecting its Christian values.
After the ban on religious events, these municipal sports centers will only be used for sports activities or events organized by the municipality.
Religious, social or cultural activities deemed irrelevant to the municipality will be completely banned.
The ban comes after clashes between locals and migrants in the Mauricia region last month, which the Vox party and right-wing circles have linked to Muslim migrants.
However, the decision by the Spanish local government has been heavily criticized domestically and internationally.
The ban will have the greatest impact on the local Muslim community, which used to celebrate Islamic festivals in these centers.
Mayor Sevi González says the decision was not made to target any one religion but to protect local cultural identity.
Muslim communities and human rights activists have called it institutional Islamophobia.
Spain’s Minister for Migration, Elma Saiz, called the decision “shameful” and demanded that the local government immediately apologize and reverse the decision.
The UN Special Envoy on Islamophobia, Miguel Moratínez, also expressed deep concern, saying that the move violated the principles of freedom of conscience, religion and thought.
Mohammed Al-Gheidoni, Secretary-General of the Confederation of Islamic Communities of Spain, said that the decision was contrary to Spain’s constitutional principles and laws on religious freedom.
He added that declaring Muslim celebrations as non-local was a clear sign of prejudice.
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