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Muslims play part in Easter parade for first time

5 April 2007

CEUTA - A traditional Easter parade in Spain broke new ground by allowing Muslim prayer beads to be entwined in the hands of a statue of the Virgin Mary.

The Virgin of Hope was paraded through the streets of Ceuta, one of Spain’s two north African enclaves, with a string of Muslim prayer beads entwined in her hand, an unprecedented step during the yearly Holy Week celebrations.

The black prayer beads were donated to the brotherhood which puts on the procession by a Muslim family.

One of the members of the brotherhood is a doctor who treated a sick family member.

Members of the brotherhood said the thoughtfulness of the Muslim family showed the multicultural character of Ceuta, a city which Morocco lays claim to along with the other enclave of Melilla.

During the holiest week of the Christian calendar, the move has been seen as another example of changing attitudes in modern Spain, which has a rising Muslim population mainly through immigration from Morocco.

Re-enactments of the battles between Christians and Moors – or Muslims  - have provided traditional entertainment for tourists keen to know about the Christian victory which forced Muslims out of Spain in the 15th century.

But conscious of sensibilities towards the Muslims communities, these pageants are increasingly seen as politically incorrect.

Another example of changing sensibilities was found in the unlikely form of the ninots – huge satirical papier mache models - which form pride of place at Valencia’s Las Fallas festival.

Last year they were toned down so as not to offend Muslims in the wake of the row over the Prophet Mohammed cartoons published in a Danish magazine.   

Muslims play part in Easter parade for first time (http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=81&story_id=38484)

Such a twisted little deceiver, isn't he. Already has Mary all twisted in the RCC, might as well add a dash of allah to the mixure. Sure points to what the one world religion might be....

One would think the RCC believes that Muslims can be converted to the RCC by selling them devotion to Mary. Little do they know Islam.

I'm very surprised the Muslim family donated the prayer beads to be used in the hands of a statue!!  Muslims are very much against any sort of "images".  As a Protestant Christian, I have explained to one of my Muslim friends that if she would go into a Protestant church, she would not see statues.....that this is a practice of the Catholic church.

I also, at another time, explained to them that we do not worship a nativity scene....it is simply to remind us of Christ's birth.