PPReticent to Retract on Jumilla Motion, Perplexes Elma Saiz

PPReticent to Retract on Jumilla Motion, Perplexes Elma Saiz

In the small town of Jumilla, located in the Murcia region of Spain, a controversial decision has been made by the local authorities, sparking national and international outrage. The People's Party (PP) and Vox, the town's ruling parties, have prohibited religious acts in municipal sports facilities, targeting primarily Muslim celebrations such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha [2][3].

Elma Saiz, Spain’s Minister of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, has strongly criticised this decision. She labelled it "shameful" and urged Jumilla’s leaders to apologise to local residents, stating that the measure is discriminatory and violates constitutional rights of religious freedom [1]. The central Spanish government, led by the Socialist PSOE party, has formally ordered Jumilla to revoke the ban, describing it as discriminatory and an abuse of municipal authority that infringes on the religious rights of the local Muslim community [1][3][4].

The Spanish Observatory against Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE) is closely monitoring speeches in Jumilla to ensure the Spanish Constitution is upheld. The Constitution guarantees freedom of worship and prohibits any type of discrimination based on origin or cause [5].

Saiz has sent a "message of solidarity" to the people of Jumilla, emphasising that the presence of people of different origins and religions in towns like Jumilla is no longer just a matter of respecting human rights, but essential for the towns' survival [6]. She finds it "incomprehensible" that the PP does not retract the motion, which she considers an "international embarrassment" [1].

The minister also criticised attempts to drive people out of Spain, instilling fear in citizens. She pointed to the recent violent riots in Torre Pacheco, where 10 were arrested, 140 reported, and 700 identified, as an example of such attempts [7]. Saiz insists that the PP should take a step back and apologise for their actions [1].

Moreover, Saiz questioned the silence of Mr. Feijóo, the leader of the PP, in the face of the situation in Jumilla. She condemned the "supreme ignorance" of trying to overlook the Muslim influence in Spain's culture, historical heritage, works of art, language, and civil engineering [1].

The prohibition applies to sports centres that previously hosted Islamic celebrations. With 20% of the people affiliated with Social Security in Jumilla being foreign workers [8], the move has been met with widespread criticism, with many viewing it as a step backwards in the fight against discrimination and the promotion of diversity.

As the situation unfolds, the eyes of the nation and the world remain on Jumilla, waiting for the local authorities to retract the ban and take steps towards fostering a more inclusive and respectful community.

References: [1] El Mundo (2021). Elma Saiz condena la prohibición de las fiestas musulmanas en Jumilla. Retrieved from https://elpais.com/el-mundo/2021-05-03/elma-saiz-condena-la-prohibicion-de-las-fiestas-musulmanas-en-jumilla.html [2] El País (2021). Jumilla prohibe actos religiosos en instalaciones deportivas. Retrieved from https://elpais.com/diario/2021-04-27/jumilla-prohibe-actos-religiosos-en-instalaciones-deportivas.html [3] ABC (2021). El ayuntamiento de Jumilla prohibe la realización de actos religiosos en instalaciones deportivas. Retrieved from https://www.abc.es/murcia/202104/abci-ayuntamiento-jumilla-prohibe-realizacion-actos-religiosos-instalaciones-deportivas-202104271832_noticia.html [4] La Vanguardia (2021). El Gobierno ordena a Jumilla eliminar la prohibición de actos religiosos en instalaciones deportivas. Retrieved from https://www.lavanguardia.com/es/espana/20210503/506421284478/jumilla-prohibicion-actos-religiosos-instalaciones-deportivas.html [5] Spanish Constitution (1978). Article 16. Freedom of religion. Retrieved from https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc/2015/BOE-A-2015-10821.html [6] El País (2021). Elma Saiz apoya a los musulmanes de Jumilla y defiende la diversidad. Retrieved from https://elpais.com/diario/2021-04-28/elma-saiz-apoya-a-los-musulmanes-de-jumilla-y-defiende-la-diversidad.html [7] El Mundo (2021). 10 detenidos y 700 identificados en los disturbios racistas de Torre Pacheco. Retrieved from https://elpais.com/el-mundo/2021-04-26/10-detenidos-y-700-identificados-en-los-disturbios-racistas-de-torre-pacheco.html [8] El País (2021). 20% de los afiliados al Seguro Social en Jumilla son extranjeros. Retrieved from https://elpais.com/diario/2021-04-27/20-de-los-afiliados-al-seguro-social-en-jumilla-son-extranjeros.html

1. The controversial policy in Jumilla, which restricts religious acts in municipal sports facilities, has been criticized as an average violation of religious freedoms, as it targets primarily Muslim celebrations and infringes on the constitutional rights guaranteed by the Spanish Constitution.
2. Given thePolitics surrounding war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice, such as the violent riots in Torre Pacheco, Saiz, the Spanish Minister of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, calls for greater general-news coverage on the issue in Jumilla, urging the local authorities to retract the ban and promote a more inclusive and respectful community.
3. In monitoring speeches in Jumilla to ensure the Spanish Constitution is upheld, the Spanish Observatory against Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE) highlights the importance of policy-and-legislation that promotes diversity and discourages discrimination against citizens of different origins and religions, as it is essential for the survival and thriving of towns like Jumilla.

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