Monday 11/Aug/2025 – 01:41 PM
The decision of the Spanish city council of Jumila, a ban on the establishment of religious events in public sporting facilities, has sparked anger among local Muslims, as the procedure targets them directly, especially as it prevents the performance of the Eid prayer, which was held for years at the Antonio Eibanz Morales Football Stadium twice annually.
Controversy in Spain after the decision to ban religious events
According to the British Daily Mail newspaper, the historical city, which played a pivotal role in the conflict between the owners of different religions during the Middle Ages, it has witnessed in recent decades a relative coexistence between the various communities, but the new ban that was passed through the initiative of a consultant to the far -right Fox party has sparked widespread political and societal divisions.
While the Municipal Council announced the decision that it aims to allocate sports facilities for sports use only, while opponents considered that the original text of the Fox party proposal included explicit signs to reject foreign cultural practices such as the Eid Al -Adha Festival, which made them see it as an attack on Islamic traditions.
Also, over the past four years, about 1500 Muslims from Jumila residents used to perform the Eid Al -Fitr and Al -Adha prayer on the stadium during the early morning hours, when it is not used for any sports activities, and before that the prayers were held in squares outside the mosque, but they did not understand the large numbers.
Local reactions
A number of Muslims expressed their feeling of discrimination, as the young Moroccan, Auwaisat Al -Mamoun, said: The matter is insulting to the city .. There were no problems during the Eid prayers, and this is just a political game to divide society.
For his part, Adam Salivo, a farm worker from Ghana, said: This is a peaceful city, and everyone lives in it in peace, targeting the Eid prayer is a disgrace.
Some Spanish voices also expressed her rejection of the decision, such as Maria, a mother of four children, who confirmed that despite her vote for the People’s Party, she does not see a justification to prevent Muslims from using the stadium, considering that most of them have been residing for years and have been working hard.
The head of the local Islamic group, Muhammad bin Allal, called on Muslims to restrain, stressing that society will discuss legal measures against the decision, while Miguel Moratinos, the highest representative of the United Nations Civilizations Alliance, expressed his concern about the escalation of anti -Islam feelings in Spain.
The decision comes after weeks of turmoil in the nearby city of Tori Pacico, against the background of an attack on a Spanish citizen, which fueled an anti -immigrant speech that the Fox party invested in its campaigns, where the Gomilla region, which is inhabited Social and constitutional decision.
