The municipality of Jumilla in the autonomous community of Murcia is moving forward with plans to change the rules for using local sports facilities. City officials intend to ban the Muslim community from holding religious events in municipal sports halls. Administrative Court No.6 in Murcia refused to temporarily suspend this initiative, emphasizing that it is only the start of the procedure, not a final decision.
Debate over restrictions and reaction of the Muslim community
In July last year, the Jumilla City Council backed a proposal from the Vox party that was refined by members of the Partido Popular (PP). The document calls on the administration to begin amending regulations so that sports facilities are used exclusively for sporting events and activities organized by the municipality. This would exclude cultural, social, and religious events not connected to the local authorities.
Previously, the Muslim community—about 1,500 people—regularly celebrated the two main Islamic holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, in these sports complexes. The new initiative has sparked discontent among believers and prompted debate in other towns in the region, where similar proposals have not gained traction.
Legal disputes and the position of the court
In October, state representatives appealed to the court to suspend the city council’s decision, arguing that it could violate the right to freedom of religion. In their view, celebrating Muslim holidays does not disrupt public order or create problems for the city.
However, the judge noted that at this stage, the matter concerns only the intention to begin the procedure of changing the rules, not an actual ban. Therefore, the court found no grounds to temporarily halt the initiative. A final decision on the matter will be made after the case is considered in full.
Public reaction and next steps
The situation in Jumilla sparked widespread public debate, especially in light of recent incidents in other municipalities of Murcia involving migrants from Arab countries. In the regional capital, a similar initiative was not supported by local authorities.
For now, the Muslim community of Jumilla is awaiting further developments. The issue of allowing religious celebrations in municipal sports facilities remains unresolved and will be decided in court. Until a final verdict is reached, any changes to the rules for using sports complexes will not take effect.
