Spanish Congress rejects far-right proposal to ban the burqa

Madrid, (EFE).- The Spanish Congress of Deputies rejected a bill on Tuesday promoted by the far-right Vox party that sought to ban the use of Islamic veils such as the niqab and the burqa in public spaces.

The initiative was defeated with 177 votes against, primarily from the governing coalition and its left-wing partners, versus 170 votes in favor. Vox’s motion received support from the conservative Popular Party (PP) and the regionalist UPN.

Although the PP had signaled its intention to vote in favor of Vox’s bill, the proposal ultimately failed to secure the necessary support to proceed to a debate.

According to the text presented by Vox on Nov. 2025, the use of garments like the niqab or burqa has a «very clear implication of eradicating women’s personal identity from collective life» and signifies «submission to men.» The party also argued that the garments represent «a serious security risk.»

The proposed legislation sought to amend the Penal Code to imprison for up to three years those who impose the use of these Islamic garments «through violence, intimidation, or any form of coercion.»

Furthermore, it called for modifying the law on the rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain and their social integration to include expulsion from Spanish territory for those who commit a serious infraction.

Finally, the bill proposed that the law on citizen security classify the use of the niqab or burqa as a minor infraction.

Spanish media outlets point out that, even though there is no exact official figure, the number of women who wear the niqab or burqa in Spain would be significantly reduced.

There are about 2.5 million Muslims in Spain, accounting for less than 5% of the total population. Among them, depending on the branch of Islam that each woman follows, not all wear the niqab or burqa.

There are several types of veils that do not cover the face completely, such as the shayla, hiyab, or al-mira.

Several European countries, including Belgium, France, Switzerland, Denmark, and Bulgaria, have laws banning full-face coverings in public spaces, often citing security or the promotion of gender equality as justification.

Additionally, others such as Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Norway partially restrict the use of the full Islamic veil in certain settings like schools, hospitals, or while driving. EFE

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