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Join on Telegram Denver- Controversial Spanish far-right political party Vox is continuing to push for the removal of imams in Ceuta.
According to the party, the imams are “in the service” of Morocco, and the group alleges the religious leaders are influencing the Muslim congregation in Ceuta in a “pro-Moroccan” fashion. The far-right claims against Ceuta’s imams began in late July, in response to calls from the left-wing party Movement for Dignity and Citizenship which proposed to declare Vox leader Santiago Abascal as persona non grata in Ceuta.
In response, Vox began attacking the religious officials in Ceuta, in an effort to polarize the small city’s political assembly. In Abascal’s last visit to Ceuta, he alleged that there were elements of Ceuta’s political and religious officials “who serve the interests of the Kingdom of Morocco both by action and by omission.” Vox accuses these supposed Moroccan agents of trying to “Moroccanize” the Spanish city situated on the African continent.
Vox pointed out that a vast majority of the imams employed in Ceuta are hired by Morocco’s Ministry of Religious Affairs. While the Vox officials consider the imams a “risk” to Spain’s control of Ceuta, Morocco’s influence on local imams is actually to the benefit of both Spain and Morocco.
Morocco has never denied claims that it held influence over these religious leaders.
In fact, Morocco actively works to train and pay imams in the region to spread messages of moderate Islam. This is part of a multilateral approach from Morocco’s government to fight the formation of extremist Islamic beliefs, and is a key reason why instances of radicalization and terror attacks within the region are relatively low.
So while Vox continues to push unfounded claims against Ceuta’s imams, the group should also recognize Morocco’s efforts in keeping both Moroccan and Spanish citizens safe from the deadly effects of radicalized Islamic beliefs and their horrific consequences.
