Vox Party Submits Bill to Ban Burqa and Niqab in Public Spaces to Spanish Congress
Vox Party Submits Bill to Ban Burqa and Niqab in Public Spaces to Spanish Congress
Madrid, November 18, 2025
The far-right party Vox has filed a bill in the lower house of the Spanish Parliament proposing a complete ban on wearing female Muslim garments that fully cover the face — the burqa and niqab — in all public spaces.
The document highlights three main objectives of the initiative:
- Protecting women from potential coercion to wear such clothing;
- Ensuring public safety, as full facial coverage makes identification impossible, including via street surveillance cameras and automated facial recognition systems;
- Preserving Spain's "Western identity," which, according to the authors, is incompatible with radical expressions of Islam.
Vox representatives emphasize the technical security aspect: modern surveillance systems in major Spanish cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville) actively use facial recognition algorithms, while the niqab and burqa completely disable their operation. According to the party, this creates "blind spots" for law enforcement amid rising street crime and ongoing terrorist threats.
Violators would face fines of up to 600 euros, with increased penalties for repeat offenses. If it is proven that a woman was forced to wear a burqa or niqab through threats or violence, offenders could face up to three years in prison.
Previously, Vox did not prioritize banning Islamic headwear and instead supported parents’ rights to determine their children’s religious upbringing. However, the growing popularity of far-right parties across Europe and increasing anti-immigration rhetoric in Catalonia have pushed Vox to elevate this issue to the national level.
In Catalonia, similar initiatives have repeatedly been rejected by the regional parliament. Meanwhile, the party Junts (supporters of former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont) has already stated that, if they come to power, they intend to introduce a regional ban not only on the burqa and niqab but also on the hijab for minors, as well as on burkinis at public pools and beaches.
The national Vox bill currently applies exclusively to the burqa and niqab and does not affect the regular hijab or headscarves that only cover the hair.
The proposal puts Partido Popular and Junts in a difficult position: supporting the ban would require explaining why only Muslim garments covering the face are restricted, while carnival masks, motorcycle helmets, or religious procession attire remain permitted.
Spain’s Supreme Court has previously overturned local municipal bans on the burqa, stating that regulation of religious expression can only occur at the national level to avoid violating constitutional freedom of conscience.
The date for parliamentary debate on the bill has not yet been scheduled.