Burgos City Council Bans Burqa, Niqab in Municipal Facilities Amid Political Debate

Burgos City Council Bans Burqa, Niqab in Municipal Facilities Amid Political Debate
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The city council of Burgos has approved a ban on women wearing the burqa and niqab in municipal facilities, following a council vote on Saturday in favor of a proposal submitted by the far-right Vox party. The decision has sparked wide debate at both the local and national levels in Spain.

Estrella Paredes, a council member from the ruling Socialist Party, opposed the measure, describing it as reflecting “hatred, Islamophobia, and hostility toward women.” Vox defended the proposal, arguing that it is intended to ensure security and identity verification, and stressing that the ban applies only within municipal buildings.

The move comes days after the Spanish Parliament rejected a similar proposal to ban the burqa and niqab in public spaces nationwide. That vote failed by a narrow margin, with 177 lawmakers opposing the measure and 170 supporting it, underscoring deep political divisions over the issue.

Several other Spanish municipalities have previously adopted comparable measures, including Alcalá de Henares, Níjar, and Castellón de la Plana, where local councils dominated by Vox and the Popular Party approved similar restrictions.

The decision in Burgos has intensified discussions over the limits of religious freedom and women’s rights, amid growing tensions between right-wing parties and the central government over restrictions on Islamic dress.

Human rights groups and civil liberties advocates are closely monitoring the impact of such measures on Spain’s Muslim community, warning that restrictions on religious attire could increase social tensions and deepen cultural and religious divisions.