Barcelona bans burqas in municipal buildings

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

City mayor Jordi Hereu announced the measure today but insisted it was not specifically aimed at any religion.

He says it is aimed at all dress that impedes identification, and thus includes motorcycle helmets and ski masks.

Lleida, also in the Spanish region of Catalonia, last month became the first Spanish city to regulate use of body-covering burkas or face-covering niqab garments.

Authorities in several European countries have been debating regulating the use of burkas in recent months.

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