A library photo for the Islamic center in Madrid

By Abdel-Salam Basha, IOL Correspondent

BARCELONA, May 9 (IslamOnline.net) - A new mosque has been inaugurated in the northeastern Spanish city of Reus amid reports of a government drive to place all Muslim worshipping places under close scrutiny.

The new mosque was built in the city’s industrial zone on a 230-square-meter area to the relief of the small local Muslim community, who have been calling for this for more than three years, reported the Spanish El Periodico on Sunday, May 8.

The authorities have finally given their nod after many non-Muslim citizens had complained about the location of a small prayer room adjacent to one of the much-frequented shops on a main street in the city.

"It was imposed upon us by the mayor. Now, we have to wait to see how things will turn out," one of the residents told the daily.

Good Company

But another resident welcomed the Muslim company.

"I was banished to  Morocco during the civil war and was well-treated there. I think we should help them [Muslims]. I think I'll feel like having company while the mosque is in the neighborhood," said Batisti Balageur, 75, who lives in the neighborhood where the mosque stands.

Alex Martinth, member of the municipal council, said this move will help enrich the cultural diversity in  Spain.

" Reus has taken major steps forward. I think this is the best way to celebrate the forum of cultures. I believe that dialogue will prosper among the inhabitants of the town," he said.

Ironically, the inauguration of the mosque coincided with the absence of another in the southwestern European country.

In the city of Torre De Embara, landlords of a shop-turned-prayer room refused to renew the lease.

Negotiations are underway between Muslim leaders and officials to replicate the  Reus model.  

Islam In  Spain

Spain has a Muslim community of about 600,000 people out of a total population of 40 million. Some 94% of the Spanish people are Christian Catholics.

The country has recognized Islam through the law of religious freedom, issued in July 1967.

In 1989, the Union of the Islamic Association was set up, comprising 15 bodies to be merged later with the 17-strong Union of Islamic Society under the umbrella of the Islamic Commission of Spain.

Since 1992, consecutive Spanish governments have attempted to integrate the second generation of Arab and Muslim immigrants into society by inking an agreement with the commission to teach them Arabic and religion.

The agreement has set a mechanism to include the Islamic religion in the curricula of institutes and schools where Muslim student are enrolled.

But authorities have recently placed mosques and Muslim worshiping places under close scrutiny under the pretext of curbing "radical imams".

Interior Minister Jose Antonio Alunsu said last week that the government was set to take legal measures to monitor mosques and sensor Friday sermons.

The government is now considering following the example of other countries such as  France by setting up a mandatory register of mosques and imams, the daily El Pais reported Saturday, May 8.

The religious affairs committee of the Spanish Ministry of Justice said there are between 200 and 400 worshiping places for Muslims, according to a report published on May 4 by Spanish paper El Mundo.

Most of them are either building apartments, shops or industrial wards, where Muslims should first obtain licenses to perform their prayers.

However, there are grand mosques like the Saudi-funded Abu Bakr El-Sidik and Marbia mosques, which were built in 1972 and 1982 respectively.