Multi-Cultural Communities

Today there is still conflict between Spain and Gibraltar, as the Spanish government continues to want to make the Rock a Spanish possession.

The Hindu Community

Following the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 the first merchants from India arrived in Gibraltar with the permission of the Governor, and had the same rights as any other traders in the area. The present population is comprised almost entirely of descendants from Hyderabad, Sindh (now Pakistan.)

Because Gibraltar was regarded as nothing more than a trading outpost, it was not until 1925 (over 50 years after the arrival of the first merchant) that the first Indian was born in Gibraltar. In the mid1920s proprietors and senior employees began to reside here with their families.

Until 1921 there were only about seven licensed Indian traders. Once licensed they enjoyed freedom of trade and the right to have as many alien employees resident in Gibraltar as

Hindu Temple, Al Mandir

they deemed necessary.

By this time the civilian population of Gibraltar was growing rapidly and the shortage of housing and poor living conditions resulted in aliens being restricted to one place of business for each license holder and the number of alien employees restricted to the number necessary for the conduct of business.

The Governor also decided that no further aliens should be permitted to open businesses here.

This culminated in the Trade Restrictions Ordinance which limited Indian traders to deal only in goods which Gibraltarians were not interested in selling.

After World War II a large number of Hindus moved out of the sub-continent and some settled in Gibraltar.

In 1950 there were 23 licensed Indian traders and by 1961 the number had risen to 26. Traders were allowed two nonGibraltarian employees to reside in Gibraltar.This resulted in about 50 Indian families living in Gibraltar with the remainder living in the ‘Campo ’ area and commuting to work each day.

The 1950s saw a radical change in the legal status of (but not the rights enjoyed by) Indians in Gibraltar. The British Nationality Act 1948 conferred upon British subjects aged over 21 and living in a British territory for not less than five years the right to be registered as citizens of the U.K. and colonies. Indians were British subjects and, those who had lived in Gibraltar for more than five years, were registered as U.K. citizens.

The withdrawal of Spanish labour in 1969 forced the Government to ease restrictions on expatriate labour residing in Gibraltar. Hindus who held U.K. citizenship and resided in Spain took up residence in Gibraltar.

Hindu traders were allowed to recruit more Indian nationals to replace Spanish shop assistants.

Restrictions on trading licenses and immigration controls remained. 1973 saw a dramatic change in the fortunes of the Hindu Community with the entry of the U.K. (and with it Gibraltar) into the EEC. Those members of the Community who had acquired British citizenship qualified overnight for treatment as EEC nationals with the same rights as 300 million Englishmen, Frenchmen, Italians and citizens of the member states.

The right to live, trade and work in Gibraltar has transformed

the Hindu Community into a more dynamic and outward looking people. This has brought not only increased investment in property and trade but also a change in the nature of the business conducted.

The increased confidence and the sense of belonging to Gibraltar and a sense of integration into the wider Gibraltarian community has enabled Gibraltarian Hindus to participate fully in service organisations such as the Rotary Club, the Lions Club of Gibraltar, in the Chamber of Commerce and in other walks of public life.

In 2004, Mr Haresh Budhrani QC was appointed Speaker of the House of Assembly (now the Gibraltar Parliament) and over the years these members of the Community have also been appointed Justices of the Peace.

The Jewish Community

Though only numbering about 600, the Jews in Gibraltar have a strong presence in local business and social affairs.

The Community ’ s Managing Board has overall responsibility for communal matters and policy ranging from finance to education.The Board is headed by a president and comprises 11 elected members.

Sephardi Jews, who had been expelled by Queen Isabella in 1492 and had dispersed to many countries, settled here soon after the British took control in 1704.

However, Article X of the Treaty of Utrecht, which formalised British ownership of Gibraltar, prohibited both Jews and Moors from residing here.

As the Jews and Moors were traders, bringing in much needed goods, local authorities were reluctant to comply with the treaty. Orders came from Britain to expel them, which the governors did their utmost to get around. In 1714 it was reported that all Jews had been expelled, except for those who had not paid their accounts. This turned out to be most of them.

In 1717 there were more than 300 Jews in Gibraltar and the pressure was still on to have them removed, and many were. From 1719 - 1721 relations with Spain again deteriorated and Jews were allowed to return to Gibraltar, which was due as much to the Sultan of Morocco as to British authorities.

The Sultan said that his subjects in Gibraltar must be treated as well as the British were

treated in Morocco. The British signed a treaty with the Sultan agreeing to his terms. Many Jews returned to Gibraltar as citizens of Morocco.

Those that were here during the first siege by the Spanish in 1727 were of help to the garrison.

This is hardly surprising considering the treatment their ancestors had received at the hands of the Spanish.

In general, the Jews were treated equitably and though there were a number of nationalities living on the Rock everyone managed to live in harmony. Some attribute this to both the severity and even handedness of the military justice.

In 1724 land was granted to Isaack Netto who was given “ a piece of waste ground” on which he built the first synagogue. It was seriously damaged in January 1766 when a landslide caved in many adjacent houses and killed 50 people. It was rebuilt in 1768 on a more lavish scale with a new entrance on Engineers Lane.

In 1749 a grant of land, in the name of Mr. Isaac Aboab, was made in order to erect a synagogue. It wasn ’t until 1768 that the synagogue opened for service.

There was another small synagogue in Irish Town, “Es

Hayim. ” It had been a

“ yeshiba, ” an academy, before becoming a place of worship in 1759.

The Spanish attacked again 1779. Many Jews became soldiers and some distinguished themselves. One was Abraham Hassan who was granted a house on Southport Street by General Eliott for his service. The Synagogue was shelled and burned on May 17, 1781.

The Nefusot Yehudah Synagogue was built on Line Wall Road in 1800 from a house owned by Semtob Sequerra. It had to be redone in 1812 when it suffered fire damage. It was known as the “Flemish Synagogue ” as many of the people had come from Holland and the synagogue was done in a Flemish style. The Synagogue was again damaged in 1951, along with a great deal of Gibraltar, when an ammunition ship blew up in the harbour.

Abudarham Synagogue was built in Parliament Lane in 1820.

In 1858 the law was changed to allow Jews to swear an oath of allegiance that did not conflict with their faith. From then on Jews have occupied all posts in Gibraltar, including that of Chief Minister.

There are two Jewish cemeteries in Gibraltar. North Gate cemetery is located near the airport. The cemetery on the Nature Reserve Upper Rock, is older and is worth a visit. It is known as the Jew ’ s Gate Cemetery and it was closed May 6, 1848. Ibrahim-Al-Ibrahim Mosque

The Moorish Connection

When General Franco closed the Gibraltar-Spanish border in 1967 not only was the steady stream of workers which flowed across the border halted but so was the import of food and water.

Gibraltar turned to Morocco for workers and supplies.

A ferry connected Gibraltar with Tangier bringing in fresh vegetables and workers. Atlas Mountain water was brought over on water barges.

In the first year workers numbered 5,000, but now there are about 1,000. Many lived in the old barracks at Grand Battery, the lowest part of the original Moorish northern defence wall.

As well, there is the Ibrahim Al-Ibrahim mosque at Europa Point.

Most of the Moroccans are from Tangier and Tetuan, which was once called Spanish Morocco.

Many of the Moroccans from there speak Spanish, which made them natural recruits for Gibraltar where many residents speak Spanish.