Murcia City Council has approved a ban on the wearing of the burka, niqab and similar garments that cover the face in municipal buildings. The motion was passed with the support of the PP and Vox, requiring anyone using council facilities to show their face for identification during administrative procedures.

Vox said the measure is intended to guarantee the dignity of women “within a system of freedoms” and to strengthen security. The party argued that visual identification in municipal offices must be compulsory, as many administrative acts carry significant legal consequences.

According to Vox councillor Fernando Sánchez-Parra, face-covering garments prevent proper identification and could lead to invalid administrative acts, for example in cases of identity fraud. He added that his party does not want “any woman locked in a prison of fabric”, claiming that such garments symbolise female submission and are incompatible with Spain’s legal framework and the European tradition of equality between individuals.