Difficulties For Spain's Muslim Population In Securing Worship Spaces
Date
6/27/2023 3:06:05 PM
(MENAFN- azernews) by bianca carrera, yeni shafak
in spain, the significant muslim minority continues to grapple
with their ability to freely exercise their religious beliefs.
spanish municipal authorities have consistently dismissed planning
approvals for mosque construction, and islamophobia has left the
muslim community feeling marginalized. this predicament is
epitomized by the makeshift tuba mosque in santa coloma de
gramenet, an underwhelming and marginalized space created in
response to public backlash, despite the muslim community's
compliance with local regulations.
legislative measures have often been misused to hinder the
establishment of mosques. the spanish constitution assures
ideological and religious freedom for individuals and communities.
however, regional governments delegate the responsibility of
managing worship spaces to city councils, which, influenced by
their political ideologies, obstruct the construction of mosques.
muslim rights activist mustafa aoulad sellam accuses regional
governments of giving city councils leeway to impose restrictive
requirements on worship spaces, disproportionately affecting
particular communities. reported by the new arab social media
platform.
incidents of violence and institutional neglect against muslim
worshippers are rife, exemplified by the 'japan street' case in
barcelona in 2017-18. the city's muslim community faced a series of
violent protests, prompting them to seek delayed and insufficient
legal assistance.
the post-9/11 portrayal of terrorist activities in western media
has precipitated an atmosphere of fear and prejudice against the
muslim community in spain. as per aziz sabbani of the islamic
community of hospitalet de llobregat, frequent scrutinisation by
defence authorities at mosques perpetuates a pervasive atmosphere
of suspicion. activist sellam further highlights the necessity for
the muslim community to acknowledge their citizenship rights and
refuse to adopt a subservient "guest-neighbors" status.
muslim observances, particularly large celebrations such as eid
al-fitr and eid al-adha, have been another point of contention,
with public venues often refusing rental requests from muslim
communities, citing their secular nature. despite some amelioration
in recent years, these issues persist, leaving muslim communities
to resort to unconventional means, such as filling streets around
mosques with worshippers, to mark their religious celebrations.
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