The municipality of Jumilla in southeastern Spain has enacted a ban on the public celebration of Muslim religious holidays, including Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, within municipal facilities.

The decision, initiated by the conservative People's Party (PP) and tacitly supported by the far-right Vox party—who abstained during the vote—passed in the town council despite strong opposition from left-leaning political representatives. The newly imposed restriction specifically states: “Municipal sports facilities cannot be used for religious, cultural, or social events foreign to our identity, unless organized by the local government.”

This wording, vague yet exclusionary, has been widely interpreted as targeting the Muslim population in Jumilla, where nearly 7.5% of the 27,000 residents are immigrants, many hailing from Muslim-majority nations.

Far-right Vox party celebrated the outcome with openly Islamophobic rhetoric. In a statement shared on social media platform X, Vox declared: “Thanks to Vox, the first decision in Spain to ban Islamic holidays in public spaces has been taken. Spain is the land of Christian people and will remain so forever.”

This declaration, laced with religious supremacism, has fueled concerns among Muslims and minorities over growing xenophobia, institutional discrimination, and religious exclusion in Europe.

Mounir Benjelloun Andaloussi Azhari, President of the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Spain, strongly condemned the decision in an interview with El País, labeling it “Islamophobic and discriminatory.”

“They are attacking our religion directly, not others,” Andaloussi stated. “The recent racist rhetoric and attacks worry us. For the first time in 30 years, I feel afraid.”

The ban is being viewed as a dangerous precedent in a country that has prided itself on multicultural coexistence. Muslim leaders and civil society activists are warning that Jumilla's decision could inspire similar anti-Muslim policies in other municipalities, further marginalizing a community already facing systemic challenges in employment, education, and media representation.

Observers note that while the Christian religious calendar continues to be recognized and celebrated with official support across Spain—including public processions and festivals—Muslim religious practices are increasingly being pushed out of public life.

Muslim organizations across Spain are calling for legal challenges to reverse the ban and are urging the national government to intervene. Human rights advocates emphasize that religious freedom is enshrined in both Spanish law and international human rights treaties.

As Spain grapples with rising polarization and the influence of far-right narratives, the Muslim community stands resilient—demanding dignity, rights, and the freedom to celebrate their faith without fear or exclusion. (ILKHA)