Al-Azhar headquarters in Cairo
The decision was approved by the local council led by a coalition between the far-right Vox party and the conservative Popular Party.
In a statement, the Observatory said the move contradicts democratic principles and reflects an exclusionary trend that threatens Spain’s social cohesion.
It stressed that the issue is not a mere administrative dispute over the use of public facilities but a sign of rising populist and exclusionary politics targeting Muslims — a development that poses a direct threat to communal peace across Europe.
The Observatory further argued that the ban constitutes a clear violation of Article 16 of the Spanish Constitution, which guarantees freedom of belief, and Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
It dismissed any administrative or “public interest” justifications as insufficient to mask the discriminatory nature of the decision.
Al-Azhar also praised the Spanish Episcopal Conference for its firm stance against the measure, describing it as “unacceptable discrimination,” and commended the Spanish government, which denounced the ruling as an “international embarrassment” and filed an official appeal to overturn it, reaffirming its commitment to protecting constitutional freedoms and pluralism.
The Observatory warned that such exclusionary measures only deepen social divisions and fuel hatred, noting that Spain’s own history demonstrates that its civilisation was built on diversity and interaction among Muslims, Christians, and Jews.
In conclusion, the Observatory called on the international community and European institutions in particular to assume their responsibility in confronting the rise of extremist currents and hate speech, and to uphold the values of freedom, equality, and coexistence for all citizens — Muslim and non-Muslim alike.
Short link: