THE
BASICS
OF Islamophobia
A BIT OF HISTORY
Muslims have been present on the Iberian Peninsula for over 8 centuries. Previously known as the Moors, Muslims had a dominant role in the development of culture in the southern regions of Spain. When the 2 kingdoms of the North united, Spain entered a period known as the Reconquista on the basis of Hispanidad. It was this movement that planted the roots of present day Islamophobia.
During the Reconquista, the Moors of the South were expelled off the peninsula on the basis of Hispanidad by the Catholic rulers of the North. Hispanidad is defined as “The idea bound by linguistic (Spanish) and religious (Catholic) criteria” (Triandafyllidou 183). In other words, the Muslims did not fit the criteria of the ideal Spaniard. Since their exile, there has been tension for centuries regarding the presence of Muslims in Spain and their influence on Spanish culture.
The following excerpt contains the opening statements of a community manifesto written by a neighborhood association consisting of residents living in Artigas, a small town in Northern Catalonia.
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A TALE OF IMMIGRATION
There has been an influx of Muslim immigrants entering Spain since the 1980's. The Muslim immigrant population is a mix of Moroccans and Middle Eastern refugees. Mostly men are entering the country in search of employment opportunities. Immigrants are settling in Catalonia due to its mass amounts of opportunity and close proximity to the French border. This rapid migration through Spain's borders has created a mass spread of Islamophobia.
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Local Spaniards feel that Islamic communities are taking over city centers and ruining the appearance of pure Spanish culture and heritage. This is considered to be an extension of Hispanidad that is spreading Islamophobic ideas and proposals. These ideas are restricting the Muslim community from finding safety and comfort in their new homes. Additionally, this behavior is adding to the xenophobic crisis that the whole of Europe is currently experiencing.
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This graph depicts the ever increasing population of Moroccan nationals living in Catalonia between 1995 and 2010.