Ban on religious celebrations in Spain provokes criticism

• The ban on religious celebrations in Spain concerns the Muslim community.
• The local government has received criticism from the national government and the UN.
• The established restrictions violate the right to freedom of worship.

In the southeastern region of Spain, in the municipality of Huércal-Overa, the local government has implemented a ban on the use of public sports facilities for religious celebrations, which primarily affects the local Muslim community. This decision, supported by the conservative party "Partido Popular", has also been prohibited by the Vox party.

The mayor of Huércal-Overa, Sevilla González, stated that the aim of this decision is "to promote cultural campaigns that protect our identity". However, critics, including the Minister of Migration of Spain, Ilham Saiz, called the ban "discriminatory" and closed the review of the decision.

According to information, nearly 1500 Muslims live in Huércal-Overa, where the total population exceeds 27,000. The ban extends to celebrations of significant events such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

The ambassador of Spain, Ángel Gabilondo, also appealed to the local government with a request to provide details regarding the protection of the rights of religious groups to celebrate their holidays in public places.

Currently, some representatives of Muslim organizations in Spain are describing this ban as "institutional Islamophobia". They point out that this decision violates fundamental rights enshrined in international documents.

Criticism has also come from the UN, where special rapporteur Miguel Moreno expressed concern about the growing xenophobia and Islamophobia in certain regions of Spain. He noted that such a decision undermines the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

Tags: Europe/Politics