Appeal made against burka ban

An appeal has been lodged against Lleida’s ban of the use of the burka, by the Watani Association for Freedom and Justice. The group has appealed to a judge to request that the ban of the two traditional religious veils in public areas, be overturned.

The Watani Association, whose president proclaims itself as the defender of the Muslim community in Spain, claims that their objective here is ‘ the protection of fundamental rights and civil liberties of citizens of Muslim faith living in Spain’.

The Ayuntamiento of Lleida approved the ban back in May, by 23 votes in favour to 1 against and 2 abstentions, and as such the town became the first in Spain to ban the use of the burqa and niqab in public buildings.

In addition to making this appeal, the Watani Group claims that the Muslim religious institutions located in Spain had been absent at the time in which Muslim women "needed all the support to claim their basic rights."

The Group have also criticized the Ministry of Equality and the special delegation of the Government on gender violence, in allowing the motion to go unchallenged.