Kenya, Aug. 8 -- The Spanish town of Jumilla, Murcia, has ignited a national debate with its unprecedented Muslim festival ban in public spaces, prohibiting celebrations like Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in civic centres and sports facilities, as announced by the conservative People's Party (PP) on July 28, 2025.
The measure, passed with the abstention of the far-right Vox party, cites the preservation of "Spanish identity" and has drawn sharp criticism for its Islamophobic undertones, with Muslim leaders and left-wing groups condemning it as discriminatory.
Vox celebrated the decision on X, stating, "Spain is and will be forever the land of Christian people," fuelling accusations of exclusionary nationalism in a town with a rich Islamic heritage.
The controversial ban in Jumilla, a town of 27,000 with approximately 7.5% Muslim residents, mostly from North African countries, marks the first such restriction in Spain, targeting key Islamic holidays like Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice.
The PP's proposal, approved despite opposition from local left-wing parties, states that "municipal sports facilities cannot be used for religious, cultural, or social activities alien to our identity unless organised by the local authority".
Mounir Benjelloun Andaloussi Azhari, president of the Spanish Federation of Islamic Organisations, labelled the measure "Islamophobic and discriminatory", noting it singles out Muslims while other religious events face no such restrictions, as reported by El Pais.
He expressed alarm, stating, "For the first time in 30 years, I feel afraid," highlighting the growing wave of anti-Muslim sentiment in Spain.
Jumilla's historical context adds irony to the ban, given its centuries-long Muslim legacy. Once known as Yumil-la under Arab rule from the eighth century, the town thrived as a Muslim stronghold until Christian forces under Alfonso X of Castile seized control in the mid-13th century.
Former Socialist mayor Juana Guardiola questioned the PP's definition of "identity", asking, "What about the centuries of Muslim legacy here?" The Capitulations of Alcatraz, an agreement ensuring coexistence, were overturned after Alfonso's death, a historical parallel critics see in the current exclusionary policy, as noted by Times of India.
The ban's wording, criticised as vague, risks violating Spain's Constitution, specifically Article 16, which guarantees freedom of religion unless public order is threatened.
Legal experts anticipate court challenges, with the Spanish Episcopal Conference also defending public religious expression as a fundamental right, as noted by IBTimes UK.
The decision follows recent anti-migrant unrest in nearby Torre Pacheco, where a July 9, 2025, assault on a pensioner by three North African men sparked riots and a planned "hunt for migrants", requiring 100 additional police to restore order.
This backdrop of rising anti-immigrant rhetoric, echoed by Vox's claim that "Spain is and will be forever the land of Christian people", has heightened tensions, with 2.5 million Muslims, 5.3% of Spain's population, facing increased scrutiny.
The PP's deputy mayor clarified the ban aims to reserve venues for sports or municipal events, not to target beliefs, but Vox's explicit anti-Muslim framing undermines this.
People amplified Vox's statement, while @VictorEgio called the move unconstitutional, reflecting Spain's secular guarantees.
Spain's Muslim population, largely from Morocco, Pakistan, and Algeria, has grown tenfold over three decades, with significant communities in Catalonia, Valencia, and Madrid.
The ban's potential to set a precedent worries Muslim leaders, who fear other towns may follow, as noted by madhyamamonline.com. Amnesty International labelled it a "dangerous precedent for religious intolerance", while Socialist leader Francisco Lucas accused the PP of risking social cohesion for political gain.
The Spanish government is reviewing intervention options, with legal challenges pending, as the ban may breach constitutional protections, per British Brief. Jumilla's vineyards, a draw for oenophiles, contrast with its now-divisive reputation.
The controversy reflects broader European debates on immigration and secularism, with Spain's multicultural history, evident in landmarks like the Alhambra, clashing with rising nationalist sentiments.
The PP-Vox alliance, mirroring right-wing shifts in France and Germany, capitalises on anti-immigrant fears.
Critics argue the ban alienates Muslims, who are Spanish citizens, and ignores Jumilla's Islamic past, as emphasised by Hicham Oulad Mhammed of the Islamic Commission of Spain.
As legal battles loom, the ban threatens Spain's commitment to religious freedom, with calls for dialogue to preserve social harmony in a nation shaped by diverse legacies.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.