“The demanding mothers have difficulty managing things because there are many of them, they are from North Africa, they have little knowledge of the language, and it is difficult for them to do all the paperwork…” J Noor BioSpokesman and Secretary of AMMU, the Islamic Community of the Balearic Islands, talks about the insatiable struggle of five mothers in Palma de Mallorca seeking to educate their children in an Islamic religious school.
YamiraFictitious name of a woman who just wanted her child to teach lessons in her religion, Islam. This mother, of North African origin, and her son, born in Spain, went to the Ministry of Education to demand her rights. But he didn’t get any results.
Taking into account the rule Supreme Court of Justice of the Balearic Islands (TSJB)to which EL ESPAÑOL was able to reach, based on the “administrative silence” received by Yamira, was taken to court. The request was submitted a year ago, on July 3, 2024. Time passed and his son did not receive the required teaching and they did not respond to him from the Ministry of Education.
He filed a lawsuit on March 24 this year, which escalated to the Supreme Court of the Balearic Islands. Finally, as this newspaper has already reported, the appeal was partially upheld, with the TSJB holding that there was a “possible contradiction with the character of the Centre”, but that A basic right has been violated As is the case with Article 27 of the Spanish Constitution.
The legal provision states, in Article 27.3, that “the public authorities guarantee the right that assists parents so that their children can Receive religious and moral training that is consistent with their own convictions“.
Demand boom
Nour confirms, in an interview with this newspaper, that The demands are becoming more common Of the parents who come to their association demanding the same cause: teaching their children the Islamic religion. The educational centers concerned are: CEIP Levante, La Salle, St. Vincent de Paul and St. Thomas Aquinasall in the Inca municipality of Mallorca. The rest are from Palma Painter Joan Miro.
“The fact must be normalized that if an elective subject like this, which is only Catholic, is taught, when Spain has many deep-rooted religions for citizens“The option to take them along with their corresponding religions should be available,” Nour adds.
The secretary of the Islamic community in the Balearic region confirms that presenting religion in schools or institutes is “Mandatory compliance” Based on the CE Agreement and the agreement with the Islamic Committee in Spain.
“In the registration forms, it should be possible to apply if any student wishes. Then, based on the request, it should be organized in one way or another. It is not something that should be asked of them, but rather something that they must provide.. “The centers cannot negotiate whether this will happen or not,” Nour adds.
The association’s secretary tells this newspaper that Ymera’s case has not been isolated since then There were five mothers who went to court To try to solve this problem. He remembers a similar case six years ago, in Palma de Mallorca.
In the aforementioned year, a group of parents collected signatures “in all the cities of Majorca,” In order to get 500Until he became the first Islamic religion teacher in the primary stage.
And also in other autonomy. Nour sheds light on other cases in Murcia, La Rioja, Andalusia or Catalonia. “It’s all very conservative and serious because it’s not just a right, it’s a fundamental right.”
“Minorities have always had to demand things because they remain invisible; It has nothing to do with religion or Islamophobia. Because we are minorities, our voices are rarely raised and it takes time for them to listen to you.”
Schools vs
According to the post Mallorca DiaryEducational centers in Mallorca »They have no intention To add the Islamic religion to her list of subjects.” It is reported that Ymira did not go to the school to file any complaint and that she went directly to the Education Department.
Mark GonzalezThe lawyer and representative of the Association of Employers of Catholic Schools confirms that “the parent knows from the beginning where his child is enrolled, and if it is not compatible with Catholic teachings, it is better for him to go to another school, whether it is government or non-sectarian.”
In this sense, the lawyer added that dozens of Muslim students attend classes “and No problem“And it is the parents themselves who support their children in going to Catholic religion classes.
Ventura BlatchThe president of the Association of Special Education Centers in the Balearic Islands stressed, as reported by the Mallorcan newspaper, that “the most logical thing” is that when a parent takes his child to a Catholic school they bear these ideas.