Spain’s Lleida Bans Burqa, Niqab In Most Public Spaces

The Spanish city of Lleida on Friday approved a ban on full-face coverings in most public spaces, in a rare move targeting garments such as the Muslim burqa and niqab.

Unlike European countries including France, Portugal and Belgium, Spain has no nationwide law banning or restricting the use of such garments by some Muslim women.

Lleida, a provincial capital of around 150,000 people in northeastern Catalonia, first banned full-face veils in certain public spaces in 2010, becoming the first Spanish city to introduce such a measure.

However, Spain’s Supreme Court overturned the ban in 2013 following a lengthy legal challenge by a Muslim association. The court ruled that the measure infringed on religious freedom and exceeded the powers of the local authority. Similar restrictions adopted by other municipalities were also annulled.

Lleida Passes Revised Measure

Lleida’s city parliament voted 16-11 on Friday to amend a municipal regulation, with the new wording designed to avoid the legal problems that led to the earlier ban being struck down.

The amended regulation prohibits people from “remaining in or moving through public spaces with items or elements that totally cover the face,” without specifically referring to the burqa or niqab.

The burqa is a full-body garment that covers the head and face, while the niqab covers the face but leaves the eyes visible.

The revised rules include exceptions for circumstances involving the exercise of fundamental rights, places of worship and locations or activities where such customs are considered socially accepted.

Violations of the new regulation will be punishable by fines.

According to Lleida city hall, the measure was approved through an unusual alliance between the Catalan Socialist Party, the far-right Vox and Catalan separatist party Junts.

“Living together means respecting one another, and respecting one another also means following the rules,” Socialist Mayor Felix Larrosa told the municipal parliament.