Is Spain banning Islamic festivals as claimed?
Spain’s national government affirms religious freedom after viral claims of a ban on Muslim festivals
Recent social media posts alleging that Spain is cracking down on Muslim religious celebrations are misleading, according to Dubawa.
The viral claims began circulating after Facebook users, including Simon Philips and Rhema Today, shared short clips and posts suggesting that Spanish towns had banned Muslim festivities like Eid in public spaces. As of August 9, 2025, Philips’ post had attracted over 20,000 reactions, 2,500 comments, and 2,000 shares, while Rhema Today’s post had 2,400 reactions and 208 shares.
The posts prompted strong reactions online, with some users celebrating the alleged ban and others calling for similar measures in their countries.
However, fact-checkers at Dubawa found that the reports were based on a misunderstanding of a local municipal decision in Jumilla, a town in southeastern Spain. On July 28, 2025, the town council amended regulations governing the use of municipal sports facilities, restricting them to events organized by the town itself. The changes were intended to reserve the venues for sports and council-run activities and applied to all cultural, social, and religious events, not specifically Muslim ones.
The mayor of Jumilla, Severa Gonzales, stressed that the modification was not targeted at any religion. The town hall’s spokesperson, Maria Carmen, confirmed that no local council in Spain has the authority to impose bans on Muslim festivals.
The Spanish national government also intervened, condemning the local measure as unconstitutional. Elma Saiz, Minister of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, emphasized that Spain’s constitution guarantees freedom of religious worship and prohibits discrimination on religious grounds. The ministry is currently reviewing the Jumilla ordinance and monitoring potential hate speech resulting from the viral misinformation.
Conclusion: The claim that Spain is broadly restricting Muslim religious celebrations is false. The regulation in Jumilla applies to all non-council events, and the national government has condemned the measure, reaffirming the country’s commitment to religious freedom.
