In 1425 CE,
Gitano Romani people of Indian origin were recorded
living in Spain. From 1492, after Christian Reconquista of Spain and Roma along with Moors and Jews targeted to purge Spain of non-Christians. In 1499, Ferdinand and Isabella passed the law against Roma. In 1560
the habit and the costume of Roma were banned. Roma were forced to marry non-Roma, their language and rituals banned. In the 17th century, Spain deported Romas to the Americas and Africa. In 1749, Romas were arrested in the widespread persecution. From 1580 to 1640 CE,
Portuguese India (including Goa) was under Spanish control because of the
Iberian Union, which caused migration of people in both directions. After the
World War II, Sindhi traders and shopkeepers thrived in the free ports of the Spanish
Canary Islands of
Las Palmas and
Tenerife following the imposition of import and foreign exchange restrictions in Spain after the war. They conducted a brisk trade with the North African continent from
Las Palmas. When
Ceuta and
Melilla, parts of Spanish Morocco, were also declared as free ports, Indian businessmen set up trading houses and retail shops catering to the tourist trade. The next wave of Indians to go to Spain were descendants of Indian labourers from former
Spanish colony of
Equatorial Guinea. By the mid-seventies, there were over 200 Indian trading houses in Ceuta and Melilla. With the liberalisation in import policies introduced in the eighties, business activity shifted to the port cities of Malaga and Barcelona. Madrid also attracted many Indian businessmen. == Religion ==