The Spanish Congress of Deputies rejected on Tuesday a bill aimed at introducing a total ban on wearing burqas and niqabs in public spaces. The initiative, submitted by the right-wing party Vox and supported by the People's Party, did not obtain a majority of votes due to opposition from the Junts party and the ruling coalition. The debate highlighted deep political divisions concerning religious freedom, public safety, and women's rights, leading to local actions in municipalities.

Rejection of the Bill in Madrid

The Spanish parliament rejected the burqa ban bill by a vote of 177 to 170, primarily due to opposition from the PSOE and Junts parties.

Local Ban in Alcalá

The Alcalá de Henares municipality became the first to introduce a complete ban on entering offices in face-covering garments following a proposal by the Vox party.

Junts' Own Initiative

The Catalan Junts party registered a separate bill aimed at more precisely regulating the issue of identity identification in public places.

The Spanish parliament became the arena for a heated debate over a bill banning face coverings in public places, which directly targets traditional Muslim garments such as the burqa and niqab. The initiative by the Vox party, supported by the opposition People's Party (PP), was rejected by a vote of 177 against 170. The Catalan party Junts per Catalunya played a decisive role; despite supporting the idea of a ban, it did not agree with the text proposed by Santiago Abascal, while also registering its own legislative proposal. Critics accuse Vox of using women's rights issues as an instrument to spread Islamophobia, while supporters of the ban argue that women in burqas are prisoners in "cells made of fabric." The debate over face veils in Europe has been ongoing for years. France was the first European Union country to introduce a ban on full-face veils in 2011, which was later upheld by the European Court of Human Rights as consistent with the principles of social coexistence. Despite the failure at the national level, proponents of restrictions are achieving local successes. In Alcalá de Henares, PP and Vox councilors pushed through a ban on entering municipal administration buildings wearing niqabs. Meanwhile, the Junts party, aiming to protect its own Catalan identity, intends to submit a proposal for a ban covering not only streets but also educational facilities. Representatives of the left-wing ruling coalition PSOE and Sumar warn that repressive law could lead to the social isolation of women and, instead of liberating them, cause their permanent confinement at home by radical circles. The situation remains dynamic, as further autonomous communities announce their own legal steps in this area. 177 — votes against rejected the proposal to ban face coverings Timeline of the Burqa Debate in Spain: — ; — ; — Party Approaches to the Veil Ban: : → ; : → „It is a moral principle that defines us as a nation: we cannot allow the existence of fabric prisons in our public space.” — Ester Muñoz (PP)

Mentioned People

  • Ester Muñoz — Spokesperson for the People's Party, who firmly advocated for the burqa ban as a fight against women's oppression.
  • Pepa Millán — Spokesperson for the Vox party in parliament, author of the motion to ban burqas and niqabs.
  • Santiago Abascal — Leader of the Vox party, promoting the bill as an element of protecting national identity.