Israel Matzav

Muslims demand Spanish citizenship just like the Jews

Spain and Portugal both recently offered to grant citizenship to descendants of Jews who were expelled during the Inquisition in the 15th and 16th centuries. Now, Muslims are demanding 'equal treatment.' Portugal has already rejected the demand, and Spain seems likely to as well, if only because Muslims regard the Andalusia region as being Dar al-Islam (Islamic land) and dream of retaking it.

Submitted by Spain’s Justice Minister, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon, the bill is expected to go up to a vote in Spanish congress this year. Portugal already passed a law granting citizenship to descendants last year and its interior ministry is currently drafting regulations ahead of the law’s application, according to Portuguese lawmakers who submitted the bill.

The Jews were persecuted in Spain and Portugal during the Inquisition which the Catholic Church and royal houses of both countries led against non-Christians in the 15th and 16th centuries.

“Recognition of the Sephardic community is symbolic, necessary and just. The same applies to those who have kept their Andalus-Moorish identity in exile,” Manuel Antonio Rodríguez, a professor of law at the University of Cordoba, told the El Confidencial daily on Sunday.

In 2006, the United Left party in the parliament of the autonomous Spanish region of Andalusia submitted a bill which proposed recognizing the rights of descendants of Muslims who were expelled but the bill never made it to a vote.

Portuguese lawmakers who drafted the country’s law on Sephardic Jews rejected calls to naturalize the descendants of Muslims who were expelled, citing the fact that the expulsion of the Muslims was part of a war to end the occupation of Spain by North African invaders.

“Persecution of Jews was just that, while what happened with the Arabs was part of a conflict,” Jose Ribeiro e Castro, a Spanish lawmaker who drafted Portugal’s law of return, said. ”There’s no basis for comparison.”

There's no reason for Spain to grant it either. The  picture at the top is the Alhambra Castle in Grenada, Spain. Yes, Mrs. Carl and I were there 13 years ago.

Labels: Andalusia, Muslims, Portugal, Spain

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:43 AM