Malik Ruiz, president of Islamic Community in Spain and President of Foundation Mosque of Granada, meets Spanish Prime Minister
Wednesday 15th. February 2006.

On Wednesday 15 February 2006, Malik Ruiz, president of Islamic Community in Spain and Abdulhasib Castiñeira, Director of Granada Mosque, both members of the board of the European Muslim Union, were received at Moncloa Palace, in Madrid, siege of Spanish Government Presidency, by Mr. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, President of the Government of Spain.

The Spanish President received a group of 29 Muslim leaders representing the entire Muslim community in the country, encompassing all nationalities and different umbrella organisations, and mayor groups of Muslims throughout the country.

The Spanish President launched last year an initiative of a political, diplomatic and cultural nature under the title “Alliance of Civilisations” in which Tayib Erdogan , the Turkish Prime Minister, has been a partner since the presentation of the project in the General Assembly of the UN last September.

During the meeting Mr. Zapatero expressed the respect and appreciation of the Government of Spain towards the contribution of the Muslim community to the country today and the great heritage of Islam in Spain in the past.

Mr. Zapatero declared that his government will not tolerate any insinuation of the concept of terrorism associated automatically to the name of Islam and stated clearly that the way of life, the beliefes and the practices of Muslims are respected and protected within the frame of Spanish Constitution.

After his institutional discourse, which lasted for about 30 minutes Mr. Zapatero met, one by one, all the Muslim representatives during a period of about one hour.

Mr. Malik Abdurrahman Ruiz and Mr. Abdulhasib Castiñeira told the President that they were ready and willing to cooperate with the initiative denominated “alliance of civilisations”, alongside with Mr. Tayib Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey, and the Spanish government.

Mr. Malik Abdurrahman Ruiz also presented the President with a framed engraving of the Mihrab of the Mosque of Granada and a set of books on Islam in Spanish language, published by the Islamic Community in Spain, including the internationally recognised official translation of the Spanish Qur´an.