Spanish bishops fear rebirth of Islamic kingdom

By Elizabeth Nash

Spain's bishops are alarmed by ambitious plans to recreate the city of Cordoba - once the heart of the ancient Islamic kingdom of al-Andalus - as a pilgrimage site for Moslems throughout Europe.

Plans include the construction of a half-size replica of Cordoba's eighth century great mosque, according to the head of Cordoba's Moslem Association. Funds for the project are being sought from the governments of the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, and Moslem organizations in Morocco and Egypt. Other big mosques are reportedly planned for Medina Azahara near Cordoba, Seville and Granada.

The bishops of those cities are alarmed at the construction of ostentatious mosques, fearing that the church's waning influence may be further eclipsed by resurgent Islam financed from abroad. Up to one million Moslems are estimated to live in Spain. Many are drawn by a romantic nostalgia for the lost paradise of Al-Andalus, the caliphate that ruled Spain for more than five hundred years.

Last month, Spanish Moslems reasserted their right to pray in Cordoba's great mosque. The mosque houses within its arches a cathedral built to consolidate Catholic rule after Moslems were expelled from Spain in 1492. Moslems are forbidden to pray in the building.

Mansur Escudero, president of Spain's Islamic Council, has challenged the current head of Spain's Episcopal Conference, Bishop Ricardo Blazquez of Bilbao, to explain why Moslems could not pray in Cordoba's mosque. Mr Escudero said he had been encouraged by the Pope's act of prayer in Istanbul's Blue Mosque on his recent visit to Turkey. "It showed that mosques are open to Christian worshippers," he said. "Could not Moslems pray in Cordoba's mosque?"

Bishop Blazquez replied that public collective praying was prohibited, but he supposed private or individual prayer was acceptable. Mr. Escudero then announced that Moslems would henceforth return to Cordoba's mosque to pray "in a respectful, private and individual capacity". The bishops hit back, insisting that "Moslems cannot in any way pray in Cordoba cathedral".

Spain's Moslems have been long respectful towards civil and ecclesiastical authorities, but as numbers have grown they have turned to more radical leaders. An alliance of Spanish converts, pro-Moroccan and pro-Saudi leaders took control of one of Spain's two main Islamic federations last year. Half of the new leaders are imams from Saudi-funded mosques in Madrid and Fuengirola.

Mr. Escudero, an ousted moderate who nonetheless remains head of Spain's umbrella Islamic Council, said he did not favor the construction of flamboyant mosques with foreign money. "I prefer more modest, decent buildings that are backed by Spanish local authorities," he said, but added: "Moslems have the right to build mosques big and small wherever they like."

Hundreds of mosques have popped up all over Spain. But churches, and many residents, complain that big, shiny mosques are more than just centers for culture and worship, and say they are funded by undemocratic countries promoting Islamic radicalism.

CFPA: With the Moslems it's all one way, their way. While they believe "Moslems have the right to build mosques wherever they like", they don't believe that Christians have the same right to build churches wherever they like. Our enemies the Saudis spend millions all over the free world to have mosques built yet they refuse to allow one Christian church into their own country. "Freedom for Islam and slavery for Christianity" is their motto. For this very reason we say, "it is better to die a free Christian than be a slave to Islam!"

Created: 07 Jan 2007