Andalusian Court rules Catholic school not required to teach Islamic religion

The High Court of Justice of Andalusia (TSJA) has ruled that a Catholic school in Granada is not obligated to provide Islamic religious education to a student, despite requests from her parents.

The court dismissed an appeal filed by the family, who sought to enforce a 2022 ruling that recognized the right of Muslim students to receive Islamic religious instruction in centers where specific requirements are met. The TSJA clarified that the 2022 decision did not mandate that this instruction be provided in any school, but rather in those that comply with agreed-upon criteria.

The ruling emphasized that requiring Islamic instruction in a Catholic school would be “contradictory” to the institution's specific religious character. Furthermore, the court noted that the Regional Government of Andalusia (Junta de Andalucía) had fulfilled its obligations by offering three alternative nearby centers where the student could access Islamic religious education.