The plight to reclaim the Moorish Identity.
(In English)
For nearly 383 yrs, the Mudéjar and Morisco, are struggling to reclaim their national
identity as a Mudéjar or Morisco not only in Spain in general, but in the Americas and
as well in Northern Africa. In Spain though Islam has at last been recognized as an official
religion of Spain, and while the Muslim population is growing, there is still quite an uphill
battle and struggle to fight for acceptance. Like the Catalan, the Basque, the Galician, and
the Andalusian, the Mudéjar and Morisco just like them, is asking for recognition for
it's national identity. Though the Mudéjares and Moriscos in Spain constitute as a
small minority, and is by no means at the same level as the other minorities in Spain,
history and it's contribution to Spain merit the Mudéjar and Morisco utmost respect
and above all, equality! Equal rights, for the Catalans! Equal rights, for the Basques! Equal
rights, for the Galicians! Equal rights, for the Andalusians! And finally equal rights, for the
the Mudéjares and Moriscos as well! It was Spanish nationalism that sequestered the
rights of the Catalans, the Basques, the Andalusians, and some Galicians in their struggle
for equal rights, under the brutal regime of General Franco during Spain's most dreaded
time ever which culminated in it's bloody Civil War in the 1930's. The same can be said
about the Mudéjar. It was the ambition of the Spanish Inquisition and it's fervor for
Spanish nationalism, that ultimately led to the assimilation of the Spanish Mudéjar.
Why in fact the connotation Hispanic or Latino is merely, an unjust and an inaccurate
connotation imposed upon the Muslim of Spanish ancestry! When the truth is, that it was
created as an identity by the Christian Spaniards, not as a means to dennote one's
attachment to the Iberian Peninsula of Latin Hispaniola but instead, it was created under
the fervor of Spanish Christian nationalism. Records show, that when Alfonso VI reconquered
all of Spain anew his agenda, was to Europeanize and Christianize, not only the
Mozárabes or Musta'ribun Christian subjects, but as well the Mudéjares and
Moriscos under the pretext of making them "Latin and Hispanic!" He introduced the
Roman liturgy. He patronized Romanesque art instead of Moorish art, and spread the
Caroligian Script. He turned mosques into churches, madrasas into monasteries or
schools of catecism. He substituted the Arabic and even Aljamiyah language, with
Castilian. But more importantly, Alfonso VI, accomplished what the purpose of the
Spanish Inquisition was for, the obliteration of the Moorish identity in what was known,
as Al Andalus; and the need to replace it with that of Latin Christianity and Latin
Hispanic nationalism and identity!
The need to be Castilian first instead of Mudéjar, took precedence not only onto the
Mudéjares, but through Spanish history as well onto the Catalans, Galicians, Basques,
Andalusians! Is it not the same nationalism, that in time absorbed our fellow brethren the
Bosnian Muslims, Kosovar Muslims, and Chechnyan Muslims? For so long they were forced
to be Yugoslavian or Russian, before they were allowed to be Bosnians, Kosovars,
Chechnyans or simply, Muslims! For so long the Mudéjares or Spanish Muslims,
were forced to be Spanish or Hispanic. But now like the Bosnian Muslim, Kosovar Muslim,
and Chechnyan Muslim, the Mudéjar Spanish or Hispanic Muslim, is seeking to be
Mudéjar first. Seeking in it's plight to reclaim, that of which was taken from him, his
Mudéjar identity!
Equal rights as well, for the Moriego Moors in Mauritania, Mali and Niger in Africa. As well equal rights, for the Moruno Moors in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan in Central Asia. And as well equal rights, for the Morisco Moors in Palestine, Morocco, Algeria, and Western Sahara! And equal rights as well, for the Morovo Moors in Bosnia-Hercegovina, Kosovo and Chechnya!
"Allahu Akbar!"
