Al-Azhar Observatory Condemns Spanish Far-Right Party’s Anti-Hijab Drive

Al-Azhar Observatory Condemns Spanish Far-Right Party’s Anti-Hijab Drive
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The Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism has strongly condemned a campaign by Spain’s far-right Vox party targeting the hijab and Islamic education, warning that such initiatives pose a serious threat to religious and cultural freedoms and risk deepening social divisions.

In a statement released by its Spanish Language Unit, the Observatory noted that in June, Vox submitted proposals to the Madrid and Andalusian parliaments seeking to ban the hijab in public spaces, including schools and hospitals, under the pretext of safeguarding “national identity” and “Spanish values.”

The Observatory stressed that these calls reflect an exclusionary narrative that rejects cultural and religious pluralism and portrays freedom of belief as a threat. It emphasized that wearing the hijab is a personal choice rooted in religious conviction, not a political tool as the party claims.

The statement also denounced Vox’s use of unverified accusations — including claims of “jihadist propaganda” in Islamic curricula — describing them as blatant attempts to manufacture an “internal enemy” and incite hostility toward Spain’s Muslim community.

On a positive note, Al-Azhar commended the response from the Spanish government, highlighting Education Minister Pilar Alegría’s firm rejection of Vox’s allegations and her criticism of the party for spreading misinformation to fuel hatred and division.

The Observatory warned that the persistence of such rhetoric and proposals signals a worrying drift towards exclusion and symbolic violence. It called on Spanish authorities and civil institutions to counter extremist discourse and uphold democratic values, freedom of belief, and peaceful coexistence among all segments of society.