Lleida approves ban on full-face coverings in public spaces

The Lleida City Council in Catalonia, Spain, has approved a municipal ordinance prohibiting face coverings that totally hide the face in public spaces. While the text does not explicitly name the burka or niqab, the ban effectively targets these garments.

The measure passed with 16 votes in favor and 11 against, supported by an alliance of the PSC-Units, Junts, and Vox. Opposing the ordinance were the PP, ERC, and Comú de Lleida. Violators face fines ranging from 400 to 750 euros.

To avoid legal challenges similar to a 2010 ban that the Spanish Supreme Court nullified in 2013 for infringing on religious freedom, the new regulation includes specific exceptions. The ban does not apply in places of worship, in spaces where face coverings are socially accepted customs, or when the covering is exercised as a fundamental right.

Supporters argue the law promotes civility and protects women's dignity, while opponents, including the PP, claim the exceptions for religious freedom may allow the garments to continue being used legally, thereby ‘legitimizing’ them.