The historic town of Jumilla was on the frontline of conflict between Muslims and Christians when the Moors were kicked out of southern Spain in the 13th century. Muslim migrants may have felt more welcome in recent years when they have lived largely happily alongside their Spanish neighbours, and enjoyed freedom to worship.
But things have changed.
But a decision by Jumilla town council to effectively ban religious events from being held at public sports' facilities has threatened to ignite community tensions.Muslims have no doubt that the ruling is aimed at them as it will prevent them from having traditional Eid prayers twice a year at the town's Antonio Ibanez Morales football stadium.
Will they simply say ‘Well, it was nice while it lasted’ and find alternative options? Reader, place your bets:
Muslim men were talking of little else, and expressed despair at the ruling, as they arrived for Friday afternoon prayers at the town's main mosque.Logistics worker Aouissat El Mamoun, 27, who grew up in the town and used to play football for Jumilla, said: 'It's really bad and I regard it as racist.'
First, it’s not racist as ‘Muslim’ is a belief, not a race, and second, what do the women think of this? Don’t they get a say??
Farm worker Adam Salifu, 43, who is originally from Ghana, said: 'This is a peaceful town and everyone gets on with each other, whatever their religion. 'There are people from every country in Africa in my village. Some are Muslim and some are Christian, and we have no problems with each other.'
And maybe the Spaniards have noticed that their town is suddenly full of African men practising Islam and they aren’t all that happy about it?
'What we really need is a new mosque because this one is quite congested. We are looking for some land to build, but the council have not provided anywhere.'
Why should they? Did they provide any land for the other religions?
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