World Bulletin reports that Melilla, a Spanish enclave in Northern Morocco, has approved Eid el-Kebir an official public holiday. This is the first time a non-Catholic feast will officially be designated a public holiday since the Reconquista of 1492. Melilla has about 40,000 Muslims, slightly more than half the population. To date the city had…
Muslims of the Spanish cities of Cueta and Melilla are caught in the crossfire between Moroccan and Spanish political tangles over the towns. While both countries have strengthened relations in the past few years and cooperate on a number of issues including drug-trafficking and terrorism, tempers frequently flare over Cueta and Melilla – a pair…
The government of Melilla announced that in 2 years time, the Muslim religions celebration of Eid will be given official status in Melilla. This marks the first time that part of the territory of Spain will give official status to a non-Catholic religion celebration. It is expected that Cueta will also begin to officially recognize…
The Spanish Army is facing discrimination complaints coming from Muslims soldiers. Any soldiers that show sympathy or proximity with radicals or Islamists will be kept under close surveillance. Thirty percent of the 8,000 soldiers deployed in Ceuta and Melilla are Muslims; for most of them, being in the army it is a valid career path….
Morocco has recalled its Ambassador to Italy, Tajeddine Baddou, to protest against the imprisonment of Moroccan senator Yahya Yahya in Rome. While details of Yahya’s arrest are unknown, reports claim that the senator was under the influence of alcohol, insulting police, and arguing with his wife. As a result, he was sentenced to 27 for…
