Compromís demands female participation in Misteri d’Elx

The political group Compromís has filed a motion to demand the inclusion of women in the performances of the Misteri d’Elx and the full participation of girls in the Escolanía. The motion, developed in collaboration with the Coordinadora Feminista and the Assemblea 8M, will be presented to the municipal plenary session.

Esther Díez, spokesperson for the Compromís municipal group, stated that equality is an “irrenunciable principle” and a basic human right that must be upheld in all societal spheres, including cultural heritage. The group argues that the current exclusion of women from main roles—such as the Virgin Mary, Maria Salomé, and Maria Iacobe—is a relic of medieval origins that has no justification in modern times.

Compromís noted that the Misteri d’Elx is a living tradition that has evolved throughout history. They emphasized that maintaining gender discrimination could damage the reputation of the event, which has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site for 25 years, suggesting that UNESCO would likely support such feminist advancements.