Burqas ban in Barcelona

BARCELONA is to become the first major Spanish city to bar the use of face-covering Islamic veils in municipal buildings.

Mayor Jordi Hereu announced the measure yesterday, but he insisted it was not specifically religious as it was aimed at all dress that impeded identification, and thus included motorcycle helmets and ski masks.

The city of Lleida, also in Catalonia, last month became the first in Spain to regulate use of body-covering burqas or face-covering niqab garments.

Officials in Barcelona said the measure was largely symbolic, given that it was unusual to see women wearing burqas or niqabs in the city, which has a population of 1.5 million.