MUSLIM PARTY RUNS IN SPAIN ELECTIONS

PRUNE has already tried to present itself at prior elections, but failed to formalize its candidacy. (Photo: On Islam) — **PRUNE has already tried to present itself at prior elections, but failed to formalize its candidacy.** (Photo: On Islam)

Madrid, 28 Jumadil Awwal 1436/19 March 2015 (MINA) – Seeking a larger place in political life, Spain’s first Muslim-oriented party has announced its decision to run in upcoming early elections, as well as municipal and regional elections in Andalusia.

“Our objective is to carry the voice of our people as high as possible, whether they are gypsies, foreigners, Muslims or Jews,” one of the party’s promoters, Manuel Bugeiro, a Spaniard who reverted to Islam, told ANSA.

“We fight against racism, discrimination and Islamophobia,” Bugeiro continued, On Islam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

From the headquarters in Asturias, the Partido Renacimiento y Union de Espana (PRUNE) has opened branches with the goal of further growth in Madrid, Valencia, Toledo, Cadiz and Ceuta. PRUNE has already tried to present itself at prior elections, but failed to formalize its candidacy.

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The party seeks to show up on ballots at the upcoming early elections in Andalusia, March 22, as well as in the municipal and regional elections on May 24.

Party leaders hope to gain the support of roughly 1.7 million Muslims estimated to currently reside on Spanish territory. They also assure that the party “is aimed at all minorities, both ethnic and religious”, and not just at Muslims.

Bugeiro confirmed that the party’s activities were financed by its promoters. “We do not receive money from anyone – either from Spain or, of course, any other country,” Bugeiro told Spanish media.

In Ceuta and Melilla, 40% of the population is Islamic. It is estimated that similar rates are present also in Catalan provinces like Salt (Gorona), where PRUNE could catalyze the Muslim community vote.

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Muslims ruled much of Spain for centuries starting from 711 to 1492. Their last king was defeated by Catholic king and queen, Ferdinand and Isabella, in 1492. After that Muslims mosques were either left to ruin or converted into churches.

There are nearly 1.6 million Muslims in Spain, making up 3.4% of the country’s 47 million population, according to an Andalusian Observatory. About 1.1 million of Spain’s Muslims are foreigners, while 464,978 are Spanish Muslims. Islam is the second religion in Spain after Christianity and has been recognized through the 1967 law of religious freedom. (T/P011/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)