The Spanish town of Jumilla, located in the southeastern region of Murcia, has become the first municipality in Spain to explicitly ban Islamic religious festivities from being held in public spaces.
The motion, originally put forward by the right-wing party Vox and later amended by the centre-right Popular Party (PP), sought to revise local regulations governing the use of municipal facilities in Jumilla.
These public spaces, especially sports facilities, have been used by the town’s estimated 1,500 Muslim residents for early morning communal prayers during major Islamic holidays such as Eid.
According to the newly approved amendment, municipal sports facilities can no longer be used for “religious, cultural or social activities alien to our identity,” unless organised by the local council itself.
These same spaces had hosted early morning communal prayers for around 1,500 Muslim residents.
The VOX municipal group stated that such measures were necessary to “defend Spanish identity” and prevent the consolidation of foreign cultural practices that “undermine social cohesion” and threaten to erode the nation’s traditional character.
In a post on X, the party celebrated the measure, writing: “Jumilla makes history. Thanks to VOX, the first measure in Spain has been approved that prevents the celebration of Islamic festivals in public spaces. Spain is and will always be a land of Christian roots!”
The motion, while spearheaded by VOX, was reportedly amended and approved with the support of the centre-right Popular Party, despite mounting criticisms.
Francisco Lucas, the regional leader of Spain’s Socialist Party (PSOE) in Murcia, condemned the vote as an act of “irresponsibility,” warning that the policy could violate Spain’s constitution and risk provoking social fractures.
“They have learned nothing from what happened in Torre Pacheco [the site of anti-migrant unrest in July]. They continue to fuel hatred and provoke a social fracture with unpredictable consequences. The PP violates constitutional values and puts coexistence at risk, just to cling to power. What irresponsibility,” he said.
Local officials are attempting to deflect accusations of religious discrimination.
Mari Carmen Cruz Vicente, Jumilla’s deputy mayor, told El Debate that no explicit reference to Islam or Muslims appears in the approved language, insisting the measure merely seeks to limit public sports facilities to athletic use or municipally organised events.
