Spanish Enclaves Ban Moroccan Imams Amid Alleged Spain-Algeria Agreement

Moroccan imams who have always led the prayers in Ceuta and Melilla are no longer allowed to preach in the mosques, reports the newspaper Assabah because of the signing of an alleged agreement between Spain and Algeria.

A Moroccan imam who has been leading the Friday prayer for more than 18 years in Melilla has already suffered the rigor of this new measure. The Civil Guard has banned him from entering the city and ordered him to go lead the prayer in Nador, the same source specifies.

Only a Spanish association has denounced the act through a press release. On the side of the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs, no reaction has been recorded.

For some Moroccan nationals, this measure is in line with an agreement that allows the Algerian authorities to take over the mosques of the autonomous city.

Following the meetings attended by Houria Sehili, the FLN representative in Spain, general coordinator of the Arab socialists, the Spanish authorities and a Moroccan affiliated with the Ennour Islamic group, an agreement would have been concluded. This agreement concerns the management of the mosques of Ceuta and those of Melilla.