Spain: Last Andalusian Emir ‘Freed’ on Coat of Arms

http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=2703

Two villages in Malaga decided to ‘free’ the last http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=4131.

According to the mayor of Canillas de Aceituno, Jose Manuel Aranda (PSOE, Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party), the village made this decision because it represents an element of confrontation that already belongs to the past.

“We have decided to remove a symbol with connotations of racism that deepens the struggle for dominion among races, senseless in a new, http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=3739 generation.”

The decision was formalized last Friday in an extraordinary plenary meeting. The proposal originated from the party ruling the city council (PSOE) and was supported by the Andalusian Party; the Popular Party voted against.

“We do not understand how they can vote against and be in favour of continuing to use for Canillas de Aceituno symbols that are the hallmark of inequalities and that can raise xenophobic sentiments”, commented the alderman.

Sedella, which is also ruled by the PSOE, ‘freed’ Boabdil in September of last year.The coat of arms of Canillas de Aceituno is based on that of Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba’s. Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba was involved in the capture of Granada and participated in the battle of Lucena in 1483 when Boabdil was captured. In return he was allowed to display the captured Boabdil on his coat of arms. Several villages in the province include the enslaved king in their coat of arms. Other municipalities such as Comares and Sayalonga continue to display it.

http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2008/05/spain-last-al-andalus-king-freed-on.html

2008-05-19