The Fortune That the Government Gives to the Student Union That Promotes Islam

The Student Union received €441,320.42 in 14 grants from state entities between 2021 and 2024, according to public data. Yesterday it promoted protests in Parla against schools that regulate the use of the hijab while receiving state subsidies. The group, linked to the left, has led demonstrations at Narcís Monturiol, Nicolás Copérnico, and Humanejos schools.

The protests demanded that the hijab be allowed in schools, despite internal regulations establishing dress codes. Under slogans like "Mr. Principal, Respect My Faith" and "No to Racism," the union has accused the schools of Islamophobia and rights violations.

However, the Community of Madrid has made it clear that there is no regional regulation prohibiting the Islamic veil in schools. The Ministry of Education has reiterated that each school can establish its own dress code and apply it during school hours.

According to this regulation, schools have the authority to prohibit headwear such as caps, scarves, or the hijab itself. Despite this, the Student Union has denounced an alleged persecution against Muslim female students at these schools.

During the demonstrations, their spokesperson questioned the "double standard" of allowing Christian symbols but prohibiting the Islamic veil. The protest led to verbal confrontations with school management and the presence of National Police officers.

The union also denounced that one of the institutions had attempted to prevent the strike and the students from leaving to protest. Meanwhile, the Student Union positions itself as a defender of student rights, it has received significant public funds.

On its website, the union describes itself as "the main organization of workers' children" with its own funding model. They claim to rely "primarily on ourselves and the resources we manage to obtain from the labor movement."

It has been confirmed that in 2019, the union received 48,500 euros from the Youth Institute (Injuve) and 23,640 from the Ministry of Education. It also received 2,000 euros from the Ministry of Universities, totaling 74,140 euros that year, although the government downplayed this figure. The paradox is evident: a group that proclaims itself "revolutionary and anti-capitalist" receives funding from the very state it criticizes.

The government argued that the sum was below the 100,000 euros threshold set by Law 19/2013 for certain transparency obligations. Pedro Sánchez's government denied that the union received funds from the Women's Institute in 2019, something that did happen in 2021 and 2022.

In those years, the Ministry of Equality allocated more than 20,000 euros to Libres y Combativas, the feminist branch of the Student Union. The union criticizes the system while receiving state funds and pressures to impose its ideals in educational centers with public money.

EDATV attempted to contact the Student Union through the mobile number listed on their website to inquire about the public subsidies they receive, but we received no response.

Under its leadership, the union has promoted strikes and protests that have often been supported by left-wing political sectors. The events highlight a contradiction: demanding the imposition of religious symbols while being funded with public money.