Melilla provides a 10,000 euro subsidy to the Los Pinares Islamic Community

The Autonomous City of Melilla has approved a collaboration agreement with the Los Pinares Islamic Community, by which it will grant a subsidy of 10,000 euros for the 2026 fiscal year, intended for the hiring of a full-time imam and the improvement of its facilities. The agreement, formalized on August 25, 2026, is published in the Official Gazette of the Autonomous City of Melilla (BOME) number 6411, dated September 4, 2026, with the official reference BOME-A-2026-1000.

The agreement, registered in the Agreements Registry of the Autonomous City under number CON2600230, is promoted by the Ministry of Culture, Cultural Heritage, and the Elderly, which holds the competencies regarding intercultural relations and collaboration with religious entities. The subsidy is paid from the budget allocation 04/92404/48000, named “Los Pinares Mosque,” and is part of the Strategic Subsidy Plan of the Autonomous City of Melilla for the 2024-2026 period.

Purpose of the agreement

The agreement regulates the financing of the entity’s actions aimed at guaranteeing religious and spiritual assistance, care for the Muslim community, and the development of educational, cultural, and social activities. In particular, it finances the hiring of one person for the position of Imam (Minister of Islamic Worship) on a full-time basis (100%), between October 1 and December 31, 2026.

The functions of the position include:

• Leading daily prayers and the community prayer on Fridays.
• Leading prayers during the month of Ramadan and other Islamic festivities.
• Providing teaching and lectures on the principles of Islam, civic values, and coexistence.
• Providing religious and spiritual care and guidance to members of the community.
• Participating in initiatives to promote coexistence, dialogue, and social integration.

Distribution of the subsidy

The economic report presented by the entity breaks down the destination of the 10,000 euros into four expenditure blocks:

• Personnel (hiring of the imam): €7,000.00, which includes payroll (€4,350), Social Security contributions (€1,800), income tax withholdings (€150), labor consultancy (€300), and occupational risk prevention (€400).
• Bathroom repair (raised toilet and bidet): €1,000.00.
• Acquisition of a wooden door: €1,100.00.
• Acquisition of an awning: €900.00.

Parties and obligations

The agreement is signed, on behalf of the Autonomous City, by the Minister of Culture, Cultural Heritage, and the Elderly, Fadela Mohatar Maanan, and, on behalf of the entity, by its president, Haquin Embark Abdel-Lah, with NIF R5200055A and address at calle del Álamo s/n, 52003 Melilla. The validity of the agreement extends from January 1 to December 31, 2026.

The beneficiary entity is obliged to justify compliance with the conditions and the achievement of the objectives through the submission of the justificatory account, as well as to submit to the financial control actions of the City’s Comptroller’s Office. Failure to comply with the clauses shall result in the reimbursement of the amounts received, with the corresponding late payment interest, in accordance with Law 38/2003, General Subsidies Act.

Relevance to the community

The subsidy reinforces the continuous provision of religious services and spiritual care for the Muslim community of Melilla, one of the faiths with the greatest presence in the city. By financing the hiring of an imam and the adaptation of the mosque, the agreement contributes to intercultural coexistence and the promotion of values of understanding and respect for the cultural plurality of the population of Melilla, in line with the objectives of the Statute of Autonomy and the Organic Law on religious freedom.

Source: Official Gazette of the Autonomous City of Melilla (BOME), number 6411, of September 4, 2026, section I, page 4612 (official reference: BOME-A-2026-1000).