Spanish Muslim Groups Protest Novelist’s Views on Women, Islam
Najat El Hachmi, a Moroccan-born novelist earned the ire of multiple Islamic organizations for remarks highlighting patriarchal attitudes within Spain’s 2,3 million strong Muslim community during a prestigious inaugural speech at Barcelona’s Festes de la Mercè late last month.
“Are you uncomfortable if I explain to you that there are girls in this city who cannot learn anything or go hiking?” proclaimed El Hachmi from a podium in city hall as she gave the festival’s traditional opening speech in front of the city’s mayor and other officials.
El Hachmi moved to Spain at age seven before having a successful academic and literary career with novels that focus on her dual identity and native Morocco. She had previously voiced her opposition to the wearing of Islamic face veils within Spanish schools.
Three Islamic organizations have signed an open letter to the city’s socialist mayor Jaume Collboni asking for the author to be taken to task for her comments about Islam, describing El Hachmi as a ‘Islamophobic.’
Approximately 8.1% of Catalonia is Muslim, primarily consisting of first- and second-generation Pakistanis and Moroccans.
Source: europeanconservative.com
