Catalonia is Including Islam in Its School Curriculum  

Translator: Fatıma Nur Dinçer

We have all at some point heard the news about Muslims being excluded in certain parts of the globe or even have had their rights taken away from them.  As much as these scenarios may lower our morals we need to remind ourselves that as Muslims there are also cases around the globe in which we can defend our rights. In this piece we will be looking at the response Catalonian Muslims faced following their request for Islamic education in schools. 

Firstly we will be looking at the population of Muslims in the country and Catalonia, one of the states in Spain, in particular. In the Spanish state of Catalonia alone there are nearly 1.5-2 million Muslims, alongside this, there are 300.000 Muslims in Andalusia and a further 280.00 more in Madrid. According to the data given to the Union of Islamic Communities, Muslims make up 3.8% of the population in Spain.

It is also important to note that a majority of the increasing figures of Muslims are made up of students. This reality was brought to the country’s attention by Muslim communities in Spain, by requesting Islamic education be available to students. According to these communities, Islamic education should be added to the curriculum, similar to other religious education being included.  

The Spanish are of Catalonia evaluated the request put forward by Muslims and concluded in a positive verdict. As a result of the cooperative agreement signed between the Spanish government and the Spanish Islamic Committee, it was agreed that Islamic education will be given to Muslim students in state schools. According to the plans published in the Catalonian official newspaper, Islamic education will start to be given in primary schools beginning of the 2020-2021 educational year. 

This new plan aims to provoke being one and unite with their differences. It is known that the history of Muslims in Spain will be reconsidered and added to the curriculum. The plan will be primarily introduced in the following cities of Catalonia; Barcelona, Baix Llobregat, Gerona, and Tarragona. Teachers giving the Islamic education will be chosen by the Spanish Islamic Committee.   

I hope this example, which raises our hopes in regards to the education rights of Muslims, will inspire the struggle for the rights of Muslims all over the world.

This article was originally written in Turkish. Click to read it! Katalonya, Eğitim Müfredatına İslam’ı Dahil Ediyor