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Claim: Different Facebook users claimed that Spain is fighting back against the Muslims’ presence in the country.
Verdict: Misleading. Only Jumilla, a town in Spain, banned religious events that were unaffiliated with the local council from public facilities. Contrary to Islamophobic fears, the ban affected all religious festivals, including Jews and Christians. The Spanish national government also condemned the town’s decision, stating that the move contradicted the country’s constitution.
Full Text
Spain, a European country, experienced a golden age of Muslim rule during the Al-Andalus era between the 8th and 15th centuries. However, the period featured a complex coexistence and regular conflict between Christians, Muslims, and the Jews.
Since the fall of Granada to Castilian authorities in 1492, the country has witnessed a religious change to Christianity as many citizens converted from Islam to Christianity. Mohammed Ajana, the Secretary of the Islamic Commission in Spain, revealed that about three million Muslims live in the country as of 2023. Meanwhile, data from WorldAtlas disclosed that about 67.4% of the population identifies as Catholics.
Recently, reports claiming that different towns in Spain banned Muslim celebrations went viral. Simon Philips, a Facebook user, shared an 11-second video depicting a gathering of Muslims. In the caption, he wrote, “Breaking: Spanish towns have just banned Muslim festivals like Eid in public places.”
As of Aug. 9, 2025, the post has gained over 20,000 reactions, 2,500 comments, and 2,000 reshares since it was posted on Aug. 7, 2025.
Another Facebook user, Rhema Today, shared the same claim in a post and said, “Spain is officially fighting back.”
The post gained over 2,400 reactions and 208 reshares, as of Aug. 9, 2025.
Chukwuemeka Ijioma, quoting Matthew 16:18, said the news indicates that the Church prevails. “The gates of hell are the likes of the lying and deceitful religion that will never prevail against the truth,” he said.
Similarly, Naomi Pennoh prayed that Liberia would also do the same. She wrote, “Liberia was a Christian nation built on Christian principles until it was changed to a secular state to incorporate other beliefs, which is not right.”
On his part, Emmanuel Udofia encouraged other countries to follow suit, saying, “It is time for the Europeans to wake up and take their rightful place as the forerunners of the gospel.”
The implication of the claim on efforts to promote religious tolerance prompted DUBAWA to fact-check the information.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted keyword searches and discovered that the ban only affects events not affiliated with the city’s local councils. The town hall modified the Regulations for the Use and Operation of Municipal Sports Facilities at an ordinary plenary session on July 28, 2025.
The modification banned the use of the sports facilities for any cultural, social, or religious activities outside the town. DUBAWA observed that no anti-Islamic term was mentioned anywhere in the amendment.
Severa Gonzales, the town hall’s mayor, said the municipality’s regulation was modified to allow the town’s sports facilities to be used exclusively for sports or events and activities organised by the town hall. He accused media platforms pushing Islamophobic narratives of being misinformation propagators. The municipality’s spokesperson, Maria Carmen, also said neither Jumilla nor any town council in Spain can implement a ban on Muslim-related festivities.
Also, the regulation is a local municipal decision, not a national government policy. In reaction to the viral news, the national Spanish government explicitly condemned the measure and labelled it unconstitutional. Elma Saiz, the minister of inclusion, social security, and migration, revealed in an interview with Television Española, a state-owned television channel, that Spain’s constitution guarantees citizens’ freedom of religious worship and non-discrimination on religious grounds.
She revealed that the ministry is investigating the Jumilla City Council’s decision. The intent is to assess potential violations of constitutional rights to religious freedom and dignity. The ministry is also monitoring hate speech that is potentially inflamed by this local ordinance.
Conclusion
The claim that the Spanish government is fighting back against Muslims as a nation-wide policy is misleading. The national government condemned the local ordinance, and an investigation is ongoing to ensure constitutional protection of religious freedom in Spain.
