(European Conservative) A Catalan-based author of Moroccan origin is facing heat from both Muslim NGOs and the Spanish left for critical comments she made about the status of women in Islam after a speech given at the start of a Barcelona cultural fair.
Najat El Hachmi, a Moroccan-born novelist, earned the ire of multiple Islamic organisations for remarks highlighting patriarchal attitudes within Spain’s 2.3 million-strong Muslim community during a prestigious inaugural speech at Barcelona’s Festes de la Mercè late last month.
“Are you uncomfortable if I explain to you that there are girls in this city who cannot learn anything or go hiking?” proclaimed El Hachmi from a podium in city hall as she gave the festival’s traditional opening speech in front of the city’s mayor and other officials.
