The meaning of Ramadan: reflection, solidarity and commitment
Managing religious diversity in Malaga and Spain
Managing diversity, a structural challenge
Promoting spaces for dialogue and respect for diversity
Coexistence versus discourses of exclusion
Recommendations for the media and reception centres
Recommendations from the Moroccan Association for coverage of Ramadan
The meaning of Ramadan: reflection, solidarity and commitment
To mark the start of the month of Ramadan, which is expected to begin on Wednesday or Thursday, the Moroccan Association for the Integration of Immigrants sends a message of congratulations to the Muslim community and, at the same time, highlights the civic and social significance that this month represents in a diverse society such as ours.
Ramadan is not just a period of religious fasting. It is a time for reflection, responsibility, personal effort and solidarity with those most in need. Values such as empathy, social justice, generosity and community commitment are an essential part of this month and connect with the democratic principles and coexistence that we share as citizens.
Managing religious diversity in Malaga and Spain
The Association emphasises that religious diversity is part of the social reality of Malaga and Spain. Managing it with normality, respect and institutional intelligence strengthens social cohesion and consolidates coexistence based on equal rights and duties.
The recognition of different cultural and religious traditions should not be understood as an element of differentiation, but as an opportunity to build an inclusive citizenship, where all people feel an active part of the present and the common future.
Managing diversity, a structural challenge
In a diverse and pluralistic country such as Spain, managing religious diversity is not a temporary challenge, but a structural reality that requires democratic maturity, institutional normality and consistency in the recognition of all cultural and religious expressions present in our territory.
The Association believes that advancing equality also means ensuring that all communities feel symbolically recognised and treated equally. Public recognition of different traditions does not divide; on the contrary, it strengthens the feeling of belonging and social cohesion.
In this sense, Ramadan can also be an opportunity to promote spaces for intercultural and interreligious dialogue, good practices in terms of work-life balance and respect for diversity in educational centres and work environments, activities open to the public that foster mutual understanding, and institutional messages that reinforce respect and equality.
Particularly relevant is the role of Muslim youth, born or raised in our country, who naturally live a plural identity: fully Spanish and, at the same time, linked to their family and religious traditions. Recognising this diversity strengthens the sense of belonging and prevents dynamics of exclusion or stigmatisation.
Coexistence versus discourses of exclusion
The Moroccan Association for the Integration of Immigrants calls for this month to be seen as a collective opportunity to strengthen coexistence, avoid discourses that may generate division, and continue moving towards a society where diversity is understood as an added value and not as an element of confrontation.
Ramadan reminds us that individual effort has a social impact, that solidarity is a shared responsibility and that coexistence is built on mutual respect.
As recent research on Islamophobia in digital media shows, Ramadan continues to be used in certain spaces as a pretext for discourse of exclusion. In response, the Association reaffirms that religious diversity is a structural part of our democracy and that respect for it is a matter of rights, not concessions.
The Association is also making two internally produced documents available to the media and those responsible for reception centres and resources: one with recommendations for responsible and respectful treatment of Ramadan in the media, and another with guidelines for the optimal management of fasting in different reception environments.
The organisation reiterates its commitment to dialogue, social cohesion and the construction of a diverse, inclusive Malaga that is proud of its plurality.
Recommendations from the Moroccan Association for coverage of Ramadan
On the occasion of the start of the month of Ramadan, the following recommendations are shared with the media to promote rigorous, respectful and accurate reporting on the reality of Muslim citizens.
What the media should not do:
Do not generalise or present ‘Muslims’ as a homogeneous group, ignoring the internal diversity in origin, thought, gender, generation and religious practice.
Do not systematically link Islam with conflict or security, nor turn religious identity into the automatic explanatory axis of news stories that could be approached from other social, economic or political dimensions.
Do not use the religious label when it is not relevant. The status of ‘Muslim’ should only be mentioned when it is relevant to the news story, not as a sensationalist or unnecessary identity-based device.
Do not give a platform to hate speech under the umbrella of freedom of expression. Moderation of comments and digital spaces is an editorial responsibility.
Do not render Muslim voices invisible or talk about the community without incorporating testimonies, experts or references from the community itself.
Do not resort to stereotypical images or visual resources, such as the systematic use of mosques, women wearing hijabs or scenes of prayer as automatic illustrations for any news item related to Islam.
Do not simplify complex phenomena or reduce broad social issues — migration, youth, coexistence or radicalisation — to simplistic culturalist or religious explanations.
Do not fuel ‘them versus us’ frameworks or suggest civilisational confrontation or cultural incompatibility.
Do not normalise dehumanising discourse in digital forums, as permissiveness towards Islamophobic comments contributes to legitimising prejudice and undermining coexistence.
Do not turn religious dates into a subject of controversy. Events such as Ramadan should be treated as part of democratic plurality.
What the media should do:
Contextualise information with data, verified sources and historical and social context, avoiding isolated or sensationalist approaches.
Incorporate diverse Muslim voices, including spokespersons, experts, young people, women and professionals in reports that affect them or address issues related to Islam.
Apply criteria of informational relevance and mention religious identity only when it is relevant to understanding the news.
Actively moderate digital spaces through clear policies against hate speech, ensuring respectful public debate.
Avoid visual and narrative stereotypes, using varied images and approaches that reflect the real diversity of Muslim citizens.
Highlight good practices and positive contributions made by Muslim people in social, cultural, business or academic fields.
Train professionals in diversity and intercultural approaches, promoting internal training in the responsible treatment of religious and cultural diversity.
Use accurate and non-alarmist language, avoiding ambiguous or ideologically charged terms that may reinforce prejudices.
Promote dialogue and social education, taking advantage of dates such as Ramadan to explain its meaning, values and civic dimension.
Assume the democratic responsibility of journalism, understanding that it not only informs, but also constructs frameworks of social perception that influence coexistence.
Ramadan is an opportunity to promote mutual understanding and strengthen coexistence. The role of the media is key to ensuring that this month is experienced with respect and democratic normality.