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Rabat – The Spanish enclave of Ceuta will allow Muslims to celebrate Eid Al Adha and Eid Al Fitr holidays, starting 2022.
Europa Press said that Ceuta’s work scheduel will “stably” consider main Muslim holidays of Eid Al Adha (sacrifice feast) and Eid Al Fitr, which marks the end of the month of Ramadan.
The news outlet said that Regional Minister of Finance, Kissy Chandirmani, confirmed the news on September 21 at a press conference.
The official said that the “nine deputies of the Popular Party in the Assembly will vote in favor of the amendment to their calendar proposal that the coalition will formulate.”
The amendement comes against Vox’ opposition, which condiser Muslim holidays not an event that belong to their “tradition” and “culture.”
Muslims in Ceuta have been sharing several demands with the local government, including days off during Muslim holidays and the recogntion of Arabic and the Moroccan dialect.
In 2020, the Muslim community in Ceuta reached out to the central government in Madrid, calling for help after the ban of Eid celebrations due to COVID-19.
Last year was the first time for Muslims to not celebrate Eid Al Adha.
The local government in Ceuta, which is supported by the far-right VOX party, cited the limited number of the export of livestock to the enclave.
“No tents will be erected and it is forbidden for anyone to come to the feedlot to remove animals,” the head of local government in Ceuta, Juan Vivas, warned Muslims in the region.
“[The move] could be described a racist in a non-denominational country and does not respect the right of worship,” the Spanish Muslim Community said of the decision.
Among other demands are multiple requests filed to the Spanish government to formally recognize Arabic and Darija, the Moroccan dialect.
In August, the Council of Europe called for action from Spain to formally recognize the languages in its enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla within two years.
