Spain:Muslim Groups Demand Citizenship for Millions(Based on Law for Citizenship of Expelled Jews)

The Clarion Project ^ | February 23, 2014 | BY SOEREN KERN

[lbryce]

Original Title:Spain: Muslim Groups Demand Citizenship for Millions

The demands are for descendants of Muslims expelled from Spain in the Middle Ages when Muslim invaders were kicked out by Christians.

Muslim groups are demanding Spanish citizenship for potentially millions of descendants of Muslims who were expelled from Spain during the Middle Ages.

The growing clamor for "historical justice" comes after the recent approval of a law that would grant Spanish citizenship to descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain in 1492.

Muslim supporters say they are entitled to the same rights and privileges as Jews because both groups were expelled from Spain under similar historical circumstances.

But historians point out that the Jewish presence in Spain predates the arrival of Christianity in the country and that their expulsion was a matter of bigotry. By contrast, the Muslims in Spain were colonial occupiers who called the territory Al-Andalus and imposed Arabic as the official language. Historians say their expulsion was a matter of decolonization.

In any event, the descendants of Muslims expelled from Spain are believed to number in the millions—possibly tens of millions—and most of them now live in North Africa. Observers say that by granting citizenship to all of them, Spain, virtually overnight, would end up with the largest Muslim population in the European Union.

Much of the Iberian Peninsula was occupied by Muslim conquerors known as the Moors from 711 until 1492, when the Moorish Kingdom of Granada surrendered to the Catholic Monarchs of Spain (Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon), in what is known as the Christian Reconquest.

But the final Muslim expulsion from Granada did not take place until over a century later, beginning in 1609, when King Philip III decreed the expulsion of the Moriscos.

The Moriscos—Moors who decided to convert to Catholicism after the Reconquest rather than leave Spain—were suspected of being nominal Catholics who continued to practice Islam in secret. From 1609 through 1614, the Spanish monarchy forced an estimated 350,000 Moriscos to leave Spain for Muslim North Africa.

Today, up to five million descendants of the Moriscos are living in Morocco alone; there are millions more living in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Tunisia and Turkey.

In a recent essay published by the Morocco-based newspaper Correo Diplomático, the Morisco-Moroccan journalist Ahmed Bensalh wrote that the "decision to grant Spanish citizenship to the grandchildren of the Hebrews in Spain in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, while ignoring the Moriscos, the grandsons of the Muslims, is without doubt, flagrant segregation and unquestionable discrimination, as both communities suffered equally in Spain at that time. The decision could also be considered by the international community to be an historic act of absolute immorality and injustice...This decision is absolutely disgraceful and dishonorable."

Bensalh then went on to threaten Spain: "Is Spain aware of what might be assumed when it makes peace with some and not with others? Is Spain aware of what this decision could cost? Has Spain considered that it could jeopardize the massive investments that Muslims have made on its territory? Does Spain have alternatives to the foreign investment from Muslims if they ever decide to move that capital to other destinations due to the discrimination against Muslims?"

Bensalh is one of many Muslim journalists, historians and academics who are demanding that Spain treat Moriscos the same way it treats Sephardic Jews.

Consider Jamal Bin Ammar al-Ahmar, an "Andalus-Algerian" university professor at the Ferhat Abbas University in Sétif in northeastern Algeria. Al-Ahmar has been engaged in a six-year campaign to persuade Spanish King Juan Carlos to identify and condemn those who expelled the Muslims from Al-Andalus in the fifteenth century. Al-Ahmar is also demanding that millions of descendants of the Moriscos expelled from Spain be allowed to return there.

In a letter addressed to the Spanish monarch, Al-Ahmar calls for a "full legal and historical investigation of the war crimes that were perpetrated on the Muslim population of Andalusia by the French, English, European and papal crusaders, whose victims were our poor miserable people, after the collapse of Islamic rule in Andalusia."

The letter speaks of "the injustice inflicted on the Muslim population of Andalusia who are still suffering in the diaspora in exile since 1492."

Al-Ahmar wants the Spanish monarch to apologize "on behalf of his ancestors" and to assume "responsibility for the consequences" this would entail. He says it is necessary "to identify criminals, to convict retroactively, while at the same time to identify and compensate victims for their calamities and restore their titles." This process would culminate with "a decree that allows immigrants to return to their homes in Andalusia, and grant them full citizenship rights and restoration of all their properties."

The Moroccan historian Hasan Aourid believes Spain has a policy of "double standards" vis-à-vis the Moriscos. Aourid—who recently wrote a novel, entitled "The Moriscos," to "remember the tragedy of those expelled from Al-Andalus"—told an audience at the Casablanca International Book Fair that Spain cannot become "reconciled with itself without recognizing its Moorish dimension" and asked if "the suffering was lower for Muslims than for Jews."

The Association for the Historical Legacy of Al-Andalus, a group dedicated to reviving the memory of the Muslim presence in Spain, says the Spanish government should treat Muslims and Jews the same way. By failing to offer Spanish citizenship to both groups, Muslims would become victims of "selective racism," said the president of the association, Bayib Loubaris.

Spain is unlikely to concede to these demands anytime soon. While few deny there are potentially millions of descendants of Moriscos living in North Africa today, the challenge lies in reconstructing reliable genealogies to determine legitimate heirs.

The issue of who is a Morisco and who is not will be a topic for discussion at a major international conference—"The Descendants of the Andalusian Moriscos in Morocco, Spain and Portugal"—to be held in Tangier from April 4-6, 2014.

But even if such genealogies could be compiled, calls to naturalize the descendants of expelled Muslims are sure to be opposed for another reason: the fact that the expulsion of the Muslims was part of a war to end the occupation of Spain by North African invaders.

[lbryce]

It is very interesting that the Muslims are demanding Spanish citizenship comes after the recent approval of a law that would grant Spanish citizenship to descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain in 1492.

Muslim supporters say they are entitled to the same rights and privileges as Jews because both groups were expelled from Spain under similar historical circumstances.

The difference is that very few descendants of Sephardic Jews subjected to the horrors of the Inquisition and expelled in 1492 will be taking up any Spanish citizenship. Ever since they've been expelled it has been forbidden for Jews to take up residency in Spain based on rabbinic decree.

But historians point out that the Jewish presence in Spain predates the arrival of Christianity in the country and that their expulsion was a matter of bigotry. By contrast, the Muslims in Spain were colonial occupiers who called the territory Al-Andalus and imposed Arabic as the official language. Historians say their expulsion was a matter of decolonization.

But, with the Muslims, it's please, my mind is made up, please don't confuse me with the facts.

[SampleMan]

Free Constantinople Now!

[lbryce]

Brilliant!

[PapaBear3625]

The difference is that very few descendants of Sephardic Jews subjected to the horrors of the Inquisition and expelled in 1492 will be taking up any Spanish citizenship. Ever since they've been expelled it has been forbidden for Jews to take up residency in Spain based on rabbinic decree.

That sounded odd enough that I just had to look it up. Particularly since I know there are Jews living in Spain.

This rabbi says:

It's well known that following the expulsion of Jews from Spain, the rabbinic authorities of that generation prohibited establishing residence in Spain. Opinions vary as to whether this ban applied to all Jews, or only to those actually expelled from Spain.

Some authorities maintain that the ban against entering Spain was actually a Torah prohibition: Ferdinand and Isabella decreed that any Jew found in Spain must chose Christianity or death. Hence, entering Spain meant pretending to be Christian, which is forbidden for a Jew to do. In effect, therefore, the Torah itself - not a rabbinic ban - forbade the return to Spain.

According to this view, there is no prohibition nowadays against living in Spain, since today you can live there and practice Judaism. (The Inquisition was not officially revoked until last century.)

In conclusion, most authorities do permit living in Spain today. As far as I know, no similar ban was ever issued against living in Germany.

[PapaBear3625]

In real life, how could any particular Jew prove he was descended from a Jew expelled from Spain over 500 years ago?

[TheGipperWasRight]

Translation: We demand that you let us take over your country. Any less is racism.

[Understand the stimulus]

American blacks demand Nigerian Zambian African citizenship and free tickets to pick up their passports...government jobs will go up by 75%

[a fool in paradise]

any land settled by Islamists becomes Islamic territory for eternity. so says Islamic Supremacists.

[GeronL]

they need to say NO

[GraceG]

any land settled by Islamists becomes Islamic territory for eternity. so says Islamic Supremacists.

[faithhopecharity]

The islamonazis are already taking hold of Europe There’s another article today pointing out that France is having so much trouble because it’s let in oner five million Moslems already. Similar problems in UK, Norway, Denmark, Italy, even Germany. And remember that once someone gets into Eu they have basically free movement to go to any other euro country anyway. Europe may well be past the point of no return. USA is catching up tho.

[Former Fetus]

Sephardic Jews speak Ladino, a mixture of ancient Spanish and Hebrew. I think speaking the language is considered enough proof.

[Aria]

USA is catching up tho.

I bet the muzzies wouldn't have waited so long had they known we'd react by sending some of them to meet their virgins but mostly by kissing their butts after they incinerated over 3k of our innocent citizens.

And then just to further prove how tolerant we are of people who hate us we elect zero.

[RedMDer]

Jeepers, FReepers,
This is the last week of month two.
Keep Free Republic Alive with YOUR Donations!
Make a difference.
PLEASE Contribute Today! 

[I want the USA back]

Kick them out.

[LeoWindhorse]

Every non muz Spaniard should start stocking up on guns knives and swords..... Send a message.

[Bringbackthedraft]

History has shown that empires come and go. Of course all history is written wrong by some Muslim standards, but it could start a trend. Germany may want to take back all the territory gained by the 3rd Reich, the Mongols will want all their territory, and most of all the Red man of America would like their territory back too. I seem to recall Mussolini wanting to bring back the Glory Rome as well. Why can’t they just stay where they belong, and make life better there than trying to be parasites in another country? Funny tho, I don’t recall the Jewish hordes invading Spain, just some Muslim land pirates stealing in the name of God.

[lbryce]

Very interesting question. Here's an interesting point. From what I've heard, regarding Francisco Franco's neutrality during World War 2, his seeming intransigence to any deal with Hitler, his allowing for a porous state at Spain's border with France to make it easier for those seeking to escape the Vichy Government, especially Jews, into Spain was motivated by the fact that Franco knew, acknowledged that he was the descendant of Jews and it was his non-interventionist attitude, his abject lack of any real progress with Hitler on many accounts was as a result of this reality.

Hitler had sought Franco's permission to cross Spain in order to attack Gibraltar. Negotiations were tough and exceedingly slow at the end of which Franco had hardly offered up anything of substance to Hitler. Hitler was asked if there would be another round of negotiations, to which Hitler replied,"I'd rather have my eyeteeth pulled."

[ConservativeMind]

Most Jews who left eventually converted to Christianity/Catholicism just to survive. Some of these are in Central America, but I know a family in California, as well.

I have personal knowledge of this. Some of the few who remained Jews wound up in places like Rhode Island.

Virtually all changed their last names to hide their original identities. That name change, now, would be difficult, but not impossible, to dredge up.

It's a fascinating story from people I am close to.

[Dqban22]

“The difference is that very few descendants of Sephardic Jews subjected to the horrors of the Inquisition and expelled in 1492 will be taking up any Spanish citizenship. Ever since they’ve been expelled it has been forbidden for Jews to take up residency in Spain based on rabbinic decree.“

Quite an ignorant statement, only Catholics, or those converted to the Catholic faith, were judged by the Tribunal of the Inquisition, neither Jews nor Muslims were under the jurisdiction of the Inquisition.

Jews forbidden to take residence in Spain?... Absolutely ridiculous, during the Holocaust and with 20 German divisions on the frontier with France threatening to enter in Spain to take over the Peñón Gibraltar to control the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, Franco cognized as Spanish citizens all the descendants of the Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain in 1492. Franco also founded in Barcelona an Institute of Hebraic Studies.

Thanks to Franco more than 60,000 Jews saved their lives receiving refuge in Spain regardless if they were Sephardic or Ashkenazi Jews, a fact that was recognized by the American Sephardic Jews.

I am sure that those Jews were extremely happy to be back in their beloved “Sepharad”.

FRANCISCO FRANCO, BENEFACTOR OF THE JEWS:

However general history may judge him, in Jewish history, Franco shall certainly occupy a special place... Jews should honor and bless the memory of this great benefactor of the Jewish people...who neither sought nor reaped any benefit from what he did.

—From a four page obituary in The American Sephardic Journal of the Sephardic Studies Program of Yeshiva University, volume IX, 1978.

James Michener in Iberia, 1968, page 547: “...Generalissimo Franco is highly regarded by Jews; during the worst days of World War II, when pressures from Hitler were at their heaviest, Franco refused to issue anti-Jewish edicts and instead provided a sanctuary, never violated, for Jews who managed to make it to Spain. Many thousands of Jews owe their lives to Franco, and this is not forgotten.”

In Resolutions of the War Emergency Conference of the World Jewish Congress, Atlantic City, New Jersey, November 26-30, 1944, page 15: “The War Emergency Conference extends its gratitude to the Holy See and to the Governments of Sweden, Switzerland, and Spain... for the protection they offered under difficult conditions to the persecuted Jews of Hungary...”

In the Congressional Record of January 24, 1950, Rep. Abraham Multer quotes a spokesman for the Joint Distribution Committee: “During the height of Hitler’s blood baths, upwards of 60,000 Jews had been saved by the generosity of Spanish authorities.”

Newsweek, March 2, 1970: “...a respected U.S. rabbi has come forward with surprising evidence that tens of thousands of Jews were saved from Nazi ovens by the personal intervention of an unlikely protector.”I have absolute proof that Franco saved more than 60,000 Jews during World War II,” says Rabbi Chain Lipscitz of Brooklyn’s Torah Vodaath and Mesitva rabbinical seminary.

In the context of the Holocaust, truth should prevail over myth, prejudices or bigotry. It is a fact recognized by the founders of the State of Israel that thanks to the Catholic Church, and by order of Pope Pius XII, more than 800,000 Jews were saved from the Nazis in the occupied Europe. That was in stark contrast to the action of the Allies, England close the door of Palestine to the Jews trying to flee occupied Europe and Franklin Delano Roosevelt also closed the door to the Jews, and less than 10,000 Jews were given refuge in the United States.