Alt Urgell Migration Plan Exposes Failures in Religious Diversity Integration
County report warns of institutional islamophobia, administrative barriers to worship spaces, and unequal religious freedoms fueling public.
Key Points
- Religious diversity not structurally recognised, leading to rejection of worship spaces like Oliana mosque.
- Administrative hurdles, informal vetoes, and institutional islamophobia undermine religious freedom.
- Calls for clear licensing criteria, non-discriminatory access, and end to selective policing of Muslims.
- Praises community efforts but criticises limited migrant involvement in local associations.
A new county plan on citizenship and migration has highlighted significant shortcomings in addressing religious diversity in Alt Urgell, warning that the lack of systemic integration fuels public rejection of worship spaces and undermines freedom of religion in daily practice.
Section N37 of the *Pla Comarcal de Ciutadania i Migracions*, prepared by consultancy La Perifèrica for the Alt Urgell County Council, states that religious diversity is not structurally recognised as a normalised part of society. It notes "rejection or distrust" towards creating worship spaces, such as a proposed mosque in Oliana, often driven by ignorance and prejudice. The plan identifies local-level failures or neglect of religious freedom rights, including administrative hurdles, repeated technical excuses, and informal vetoes by officials, property owners, or licensing staff.
These practices, the document argues, make religious freedom conditional and unequally applied across faiths. It calls for non-discriminatory access to worship spaces, clear criteria for granting usage rights, managing public areas, and processing licences. The report also urges steps to prevent the criminalisation and selective policing of Muslim communities and their leaders, particularly by security units, which it says erodes trust and social cohesion when not based on objective evidence.
Institutional islamophobia features prominently in the critique, appearing in municipal procedures like inspections and permit processes. While praising community-led efforts—such as the Muslim group in Oliana, a mutual support network in La Seu d'Urgell, and the Housing Union—the plan laments limited migrant involvement in local associations due to unawareness or closed dynamics. It further criticises cultural policies for lacking inclusivity.
The findings come amid recent government engagement. On 20 December last year, Justice and Democratic Quality councillor Ramon Espadaler visited La Seu d'Urgell, including a meeting at the city's Islamic Oratory with community president Ahmed Kallouch and board members. Discussions focused on the Muslim community's contributions to social cohesion, intercultural dialogue, and mutual respect initiatives.
The full plan is available on the Alt Urgell County Council website.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: