Recent claims circulating on social media suggest that Catalonia, a northeastern region of Spain, now boasts more mosques than churches, accompanied by assertions that 120 schools in the region “teach Islam.” These claims have drawn significant attention and criticism, prompting a need for clarification. The official Religious Map of Catalonia, maintained by the regional government, provides factual insight into religious institutions within the area, revealing a more complex picture than what some social media posts imply.
As of 2024, the Catalan government’s dataset catalogues 7,260 places of worship from diverse religious denominations, which encompass 14 main religions as well as several smaller groups. Remarkably, Catholic churches dominate this statistic, making up approximately 78% of all places of worship at 5,665 locations. However, a noticeable decline in the number of Catholic churches has been observed, largely attributed to an aging population and congregational mergers. In stark contrast, Evangelical or Protestant churches show marked growth, with 889 places of worship recorded, highlighting a trend of increasing diversity among faith communities.
Contrary to the claims circulating on social media, Islam ranks third, with 326 recorded mosques and Islamic centers in Catalonia. This clearly indicates that there are not more mosques than churches in the region, which calls into question the intentions behind the claims propagating an Islamophobic narrative. The official data implies that, while there is a sustained growth in Islamic worship centers since the 1970s, it has not surpassed the number of Catholic churches.
The origins of the social media claims can be traced back to EDATV News, a Spanish news outlet that positions itself as an independent media voice against “political correctness.” While some social media posts cite this outlet, a search of its articles reveals that the specific claim connecting mosques and churches is absent. Instead, the source refers to views expressed by Júlia Calvet, a Vox party politician, asserting that certain municipalities like Salt, in the province of Girona, have a higher number of mosques than churches. However, the aggregate of various denominations still shows churches surpassing mosques within those areas.
Calvet’s assertions extend to the supposed 120 schools imparting a curriculum on Arabic language and Moroccan culture, which appears linked to the social media claims regarding Islamic education in schools. In reality, this program, concluded through an agreement between Spain and Morocco, aims to teach Arabic and Moroccan culture to both Moroccan and non-Moroccan students. Managed by Moroccan civil service teachers, the initiative promotes respect for both Moroccan identity and Spanish culture, emphasizing participation and tolerance within Spanish society. Recent reports have validated that this initiative will be rolled out in 120 public education centers in Catalonia from 2024 to 2025, but it is crucial to understand that this is fundamentally a language and culture program, not an Islamic education initiative.
When examining the broader context across Spain, similar trends are evident. In total, the country hosts 30,949 religious sites, with Catholic churches again leading the way at 22,933, which constitutes around 74% of all religious centers. Evangelical churches follow with 4,455 locations, while Islamic centers amount to 1,839. Catalonia stands out as the autonomous community with the highest number of worship centers, followed by Andalusia and Madrid. Such statistics highlight the rich tapestry of religious diversity present within Spain, thereby challenging reductive narratives that focus solely on the growth of certain religions.
In summary, while conversations about religious representation in Catalonia are essential, they must be grounded in factual data rather than sensationalized claims. The official statistics provide a clear breakdown of the religious landscape, emphasizing the predominance of Catholic churches and the significant yet still minority status of mosques in comparison. This nuanced understanding is critical for promoting interfaith dialogue and mitigating the rise of Islamophobic sentiments fueled by misinformation.
