Author(s) | |
---|---|
Abstract | In 2015, a law in Spain was passed that grants dual citizenship to Jews who can trace their ancestry to Spain. Jews who trace their ancestry to Spain are known as Sephardic Jews. The Spanish government passed the law as atonement to the Sephardim on account of their expulsion by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in 1492. Approximately 200,000 Jews were forced to leave the country. Others were forced to convert to Catholicism or suffer the consequences of being caught practicing Judaism. It should be noted that the new law has received criticism on account of its overly restrictive nature. Critics claim that, in the end, very few Sephardic Jews will succeed in gaining dual citizenship. Nevertheless, no such law whatsoever has been proposed offering dual citizenship to Muslims, who were expelled from Spain in 1609. The purpose of this study is to consider the apparent contradiction between granting dual citizenship to Sephardic Jews, however limited, but not to the Muslim descendants of Spain. The research is conducted through examination of scholarly articles, newspapers articles, and the text of the law itself. This paper is expected to demonstrate that both Muslims of Spanish descent and Sephardic Jews should be offered the right to Spanish citizenship. |
Format | |
Publication Date | 2016-03-15 |
Contributor(s) | Faculty Mentor Dr. Patrick Gallagher |
Modified Abstract | In 2015, Spain passed a law granting Sephardic Jews dual citizenship but not to the Muslims of Spain. It was passed to serve as atonement for the expulsion of the Jews in 1492. This study investigates the arguments associated with the law as well as those associated with whether or not this right should be extended to the Muslims of Spain, who were expelled from Spain in 1609. Through the examination of scholarly articles, newspaper articles, and the text of the law itself, this paper is expected to demonstrate that both Muslims of Spanish descent and Sephardic Jews should be offered the right to Spanish citizenship. |
Permalink | https://oaks.kent.edu/ugresearch/2016/2016all/41 |
Spain’s Atonement for the Inquisition
LaFargue, E., & Gallagher, P. (2016). Spain’s Atonement for the Inquisition (1–). https://oaks.kent.edu/node/5313
LaFargue, Erin, and Patrick Gallagher. 2016. “Spain’s Atonement for the Inquisition”. https://oaks.kent.edu/node/5313.
LaFargue, Erin, and Patrick Gallagher. Spain’s Atonement for the Inquisition. 15 Mar. 2016, https://oaks.kent.edu/node/5313.