hello99: “”Authentic Sepharadim have a similar kesher to Spain”
Not true. The community in Bavel even had yeshivos that were open consecutively from before the destruction of the First Beis HaMikdash until Saddam Hussein closed them. Similarly Egypt had a community during the time of the Bayis Sheini. Neither of them originated in Spain, but they are referred to as “sefardim”.”
Note that I wrote authentic Sepharadim. Sepharadim means Jews from Spain. Middle Eastern Jews that were not in Spain (or not descended from such) are not Sepharadim. There is a different term that is used for them, namely ‘edot hamizrach’. It is an error to refer to them as Sepharadim. They have different minhogim. In fact, there were clashes between them and the Sepharadim, esp. after the Sepharadim had to leave Spain and moved into countries where they lived, due to different practices. There are teshuvos about such things.