Today the two right-wing parties will advance a law in the Spanish Congress banning the burka and niqab in public spaces.
It is the initiative of the far-right party, Vox, but it is supported by the centre-right PP as they fear that they are losing ground to Vox.
The left-wing parties, including the governing party, PSOE, will vote against it, labelling the initiative as “racist.” Amongst the left-wing parties is Bildu, which is the political arm of the defunct Basque terrorist group, ETA, and the far-left party, Podemos.
Vox says that they want this law for reasons of “public safety” and “human dignity.”
The bill proposes prison sentences for those who force others to wear these garments and seeks to amend the Penal Code and the Gag Law. (Ley Mordaza introduced in 2015 by the right-wing governing party to limit protests and freedom of expression following the backlash to cuts to civil rights, etc, put in force by the 2008 crisis)
Things to bear in mind is the PP need VOX to be able to govern in the autonomous regions of Extremadura and Aragon, so it is likely that this backing is the price tag for Vox support elsewhere.
The proposal (which does not affect the hijab or Islamic veil) will move forward if it also receives support from the right-wing, Catalan independentist party, which has previously positioned itself in favour of restricting these garments in Cataluña.
Vox’s text claims that European civilization is being threatened by “the massive arrival of immigrants” from countries “with strong Islamist influence;” thus echoing President Trump and his MAGA backing, which is hardly suprising as Trump is openly interferring in foreign elections by backing far-right parties across Europe.
Vox also says that countries like France, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Switzerland have approved restrictions “on the use of garments that hide a person’s face in public spaces,”
(News: Spain)
Keywords: Far-Right Want Niqab Ban, Vox, PP, PSOE, Bildu, House of Congress, New Bill
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