Reconquista

Relief Map of Spain

The problem Spain has with Al Qaeda and Islamic terrorism did not begin with the Iraq Crisis. In fact, it has nothing to do with government decisions. You must go back no less than 1,300 years, to the early 8th century, when a Spain recently invaded by the Moors refused to become just another piece in the Islamic world and began a long battle to recover its identity. This Reconquista process was very long, lasting some 800 years. However, it ended successfully. There are many radical Muslims who continue to recall that defeat, many more than any rational Western mind might suspect. Osama Bin Laden is one of them. His first statement after 11th September - I repeat, the 11th September - did not begin by referring to New York or Iraq. His first words were to lament the loss of Al Andalus - Moorish Medieval Spain - and compare it to the occupation of Jerusalem by the Israelis.

This extract is from a speech delivered by former Spanish president Jose María Aznar at Georgetown University in September 2004 entitled: “Seven Thesis on Today's Terrorism”. In this speech, Jose María Aznar emphasizes the problematic role of al-Andalus -Moorish Spain- within Spanish historical memory. He recovers the term “Reconquista” which has traditionally being used to refer to the process by which Christendom took over the Muslim territories of the Iberian Peninsula. The use of the memory of al-Andalus and the Reconquista by Jose María Aznar had the intention of explaining the terrorist attacks in Madrid in March 11, 2004. Contrary to the majority of analysts and people, Aznar did not consider that the attacks were a reaction to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 in which the Spanish Government participated directly with the USA and the UK against the Spanish public opinion, he considered that this form of terrorism has a long historical cause that could be traced to the 8th century when the Reconquista process started. Before the so call Reconquista Spain constituted a melting pot of Visigoths and Hispano-Romans, and that it was Catholic only since the late sixth century.

What are the possible effects of relating the history of Islam in Spain and terrorism on the Muslim community of Spain? To what extent do political discourses prevent or increase hate speech and hate acts in our societies?

Title

Reconquista

Description

Ex-prime minister Jose María Aznar emphasises the problematic role of al-Andalus -Moorish Spain- within Spanish historical memory. He recovers the term “Reconquista” which has traditionally being used to refer to the process by which Christendom took over the Muslim territories of the Iberian Peninsula.

Context

This extract is from a speech delivered by former Spanish president Jose María Aznar at Georgetown University in September 2004 entitled: “Seven Thesis on Today's Terrorism”. In this speech, Jose María Aznar emphasizes the problematic role of al-Andalus -Moorish Spain- within Spanish historical memory. He recovers the term “Reconquista” which has traditionally being used to refer to the process by which Christendom took over the Muslim territories of the Iberian Peninsula.

The use of the memory of al-Andalus and the Reconquista by Jose María Aznar had the intention of explaining the terrorist attacks in Madrid in March 11, 2004. Contrary to the majority of analysts and people, Aznar did not consider that the attacks were a reaction to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 in which the Spanish Government participated directly with the USA and the UK against the Spanish public opinion, he considered that this form of terrorism has a long historical cause that could be traced to the 8th century when the Reconquista process started. Before the so call Reconquista Spain constituted a melting pot of Visigoths and Hispano-Romans, and that it was Catholic only since the late sixth century.

Questions

Temporal Coverage

21st century

Date

21 September 2004

Spatial Coverage

Spain

Subject

European Political Discourse in media

Audience

Yes

Creator

Laura Galián

Collection

Memory and heritage