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The article focuses on the Muslim population in Spain as of September 2011. There is an estimated 1 million Muslims living in Spain, coming from Morocco, Algeria, Pakistan, Nigeria and Senegal. Muslims typically experience prejudice based on their poverty and religious or national identity. Efforts towards Muslim integration stemmed from the 2004 Madrid terrorist attacks. It notes the challenges faced by the government with the integration of Muslims into its education system.

As the U.S. steps up its antiterrorism campaign in North Africa with the Pan Sahel Initiative, military cooperation has been on the increase. Following the train bombings in Madrid, Spain and arrests of a number of Moroccans within days, the region is likely to become even more of a focus in the U.S.-led "war on terror." U.S. and local forces are co-operating in a campaign against the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, a radical group active in the Sahara region, which is believed to have links to international militant networks and has pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda.