Barcelona bans burqa in public places

Barcelona’s mayor, Jordi Hereu, yesterday announced “a decree to ban the use of the burqa and the niqab in public buildings”, reports El Periódico de Catalunya. The ‘sudden’ announcement marks change in the city council’s traditional policy, which was "to convince rather than to exclude immigrants". The alleged reason behind this ban is citizens’ security. Yet this “surprising" decision “is related to Hereu’s wish to build a strong and leadership image”, now he has a weak public support and after "rumours suggesting that he will be soon replaced". El Periódico also considers that "the ban may be counterproductive and will create more problems that those it seeks to solve", although it defends the need to ban the burqa in public buildings like libraries, markets or sport centres. Barcelona is not the first city in Spain to ban the Islamic clothing, as Lleida prohibited its use some weeks ago.