Spain’s central government has ordered the council of Jumilla, in the Murcia region, to scrap a ban on religious gatherings in public sports centres, calling it discriminatory and a violation of religious freedom.
The directive follows a controversial motion passed by the conservative-led council, prohibiting the use of municipal sports facilities for “cultural, social or religious activities” not organised by the council. While the wording did not name any faith, the move was widely seen as targeting the town’s roughly 1,500 Muslim residents, who have long celebrated Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in such venues.
The ban originated from the far-right Vox party, which initially sought to outlaw Islamic festivals in public spaces. The measure was later softened but still backed by the People’s Party (PP) mayor, Seve González, in exchange for Vox’s support for the municipal budget.
Minister for Territorial Policy Ángel Víctor Torres condemned the decision, saying: “There can be no half-measures when it comes to intolerance. Rightwing parties cannot decide who has freedom of worship and who does not.”
The measure drew criticism from across Spain, including the Catholic Church, the Federation of Jewish Communities, and Migration Minister Elma Saiz, who described it as “shameful.” Saiz highlighted that foreign residents make up 20% of Jumilla’s social security contributors and play a vital role in the local economy. She also rejected arguments about protecting Spanish identity, noting the historic influence of Muslim culture on Spain’s language, art, and architecture.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal defended the ban and criticised the Catholic Church’s opposition, suggesting its position was influenced by public funding and past scandals.
The central government has given the council one month to respond, warning it will consider legal action if the ban remains in place. The row comes amid rising anti-immigrant tensions in the region, following violent unrest in nearby Torre-Pacheco and a surge in online hate speech.
