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A town in southeastern Spain has sparked controversy after becoming the first in the country to ban Muslims from using public facilities to celebrate religious Eid festivals. The decision comes just weeks after nearby anti-migrant riots heightened tensions in the region.
The ban was approved in Jumilla, a municipality in the Murcia region with a population of around 27,000, according to Mail Online. The motion was introduced by Spain’s conservative People’s Party (PP) and supported by the far-right Vox party.
The ruling prohibits the use of public spaces such as sports halls and civic centres for “religious, cultural, or social activities alien to our identity”, unless organised directly by the local council.
This move follows violent anti-migrant unrest in Torre Pacheco, approximately 70 miles from Jumilla. On July 9, a 68-year-old man told Spanish media he was attacked by three young men of North African origin, prompting further political backlash and racial tension.
The local Vox branch celebrated the new policy on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“Thanks to Vox, the first measure to ban Islamic festivals in Spain’s public spaces has been passed. Spain is and will forever be the land of Christian people.”
The ban specifically restricts Muslims from celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice, in public buildings such as community gyms and civic centres.
Muslim leaders across Spain have condemned the move. Mounir Benjelloun Andaloussi Azhari, president of the Spanish Federation of Islamic Organisations, described the policy as “Islamophobic and discriminatory.”
“They’re not going after other religions; they’re going after ours,” he told El País.
“We’re rather surprised by what’s happening in Spain. For the first time in 30 years, I feel afraid.”
Legal experts suggest the ban could face a constitutional challenge, citing Article 16 of Spain’s constitution, which guarantees freedom of religious belief, limited only by the need to maintain public order.
The Socialist leader of Murcia, Francisco Lucas, accused the PP of endangering social cohesion for political gain.
“The PP violates the constitution and puts social cohesion at risk simply in the pursuit of power,” he said on X.
Juana Guardiola, former mayor of Jumilla and a member of the Socialist party, also condemned the rhetoric behind the motion.
“What do they mean by identity? And what about the centuries of Muslim legacy here?” she asked.
