Catalan cops are keeping a close eye on Muslim women wearing full-body veils to determine whether they are linked to any radical Islamist groups in the region.
Catalonia’s Mossos d’Esquadra police are taking a census of every Muslim woman wearing a niqab or burqa. Whenever they see a woman wearing a full-body veil which also covers their faces, by taking down their details and passing it on to the local authorities. “Catalan police have always been convinced that niqab-bearing women can be indicative of a radical or Salafist branch of Islam,” Spain’s Interior ministry explained.
On July 18th, the Catalan Parliament approved a motion which bans people from covering their faces if deemed a security risk. Several political parties in the region are now pushing for the law to apply to Muslim head gear, which would prohibit its usage in public spaces across Catalonia.