Seville City Council approves large Islamic cultural centre

Seville’s municipal government granted a construction licence for a €10 million Islamic cultural centre in the Polígono Sur district. The project, promoted by the Fundación Mezquita de Sevilla and designed by architect Guillermo Vázquez Consuegra, will cover about 6,000 m², include a prayer hall for 500 worshippers, a 400 m² prayer room, a minaret, cultural‑service spaces and a public medical centre.

The decision follows a contentious debate in the city’s coalition administration. The centre‑right People’s Party (PP) approved the licence despite opposition from the far‑right Vox party, which warned it would withdraw its support for the PP‑led council and has announced it will pursue legal action to block the build. The foundation welcomed the outcome, saying the authorities upheld “the law over ideology” and reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue with all Sevillans.

Vox’s municipal spokesperson, Gonzalo García de Polavieja, criticised the approval and vowed to appeal to the courts, arguing the technical reports do not resolve the legal concerns raised by the party.