Spanish town bans niqaab.

[Tawangar]

The Muslim News

Spain: City in northeast becomes country's first to ban niqab

11-12-2010

Madrid, (AKI): Lleida in the northeastern Catalonia region on Thursday became Spain's first city to introduce a ban on wearing the face-covering Islamic burqa in public places.

These places include offices, sports centres, markets and other property owned by the city council. The niqab - which covers the face but leaves a small slit for the eyes - has also been banned.

"I feel proud of the fact that Lleida has become the first Spanish city to outlaw behaviour which discriminates against women," said the city's mayor, Angel Ros. "I hope it will be of educational value," he added.

The ban, which was approved by the council in May, is largely symbolic, as Muslims make up just 3 percent of Lleida's population, and there are only a handful of women living there who wear the burqa and the niqab.
Under the municipal bylaw banning the face-covering garments, women who wear them in a public place will have to reveal their identity. If they refuse, they face fines ranging from 30 to 600 euros.

Other cities in the autonomous Catalonia region, including the capital, Barcelona, are mulling burqa bans.

And the central government has in recent months been working on legislation covering religious symbols, which could outlaw the burqa throughout Spain, home to a million Muslims.

In neighbouring France, the national parliament in September outlawed the burqa and veils which cover the face. Women there can be fined or jailed for wearing such garments.

The same month, two separate bills were presented in the upper and lower houses of the Italian parliament which aim to end the wearing of burqas and face-covering garments in Italy on security grounds.

Many Muslim immigrants oppose such bans on the grounds that they limit religious freedom.

The Muslim News

[GuestFellow]

Salaam,

I wonder what they will ban next.

[nature]

personally i dont wear it, but i have a lot of respect for women that do. I remember, how mortified i was, wen i heard rumours of banning the hijab, in the UK. I think its only a matter of time, before other countries follow the niqab ban.

[أحمد]

:sl:

The ummah is, and has been asleep for a long time. There's little to wonder, how easily people take advantage of the situation.

:wa:

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[GuestFellow]

^ :sl:

What do you think should have been done to prevent this?

[Lynx]

europe sucks. bunch of racists who wouldn't know what or how important freedom is if they were slapped in the face with a copy of On Liberty

[أحمد]

:sl:

^ :sl:

What do you think should have been done to prevent this?

The problem of materialism is responsible, so "trying to follow" the guidance of Allah and Rasool :saws1:, is the way out of this problem.

:wa:

[GuestFellow]

:sl:

The problem of materialism is responsible, so "trying to follow" the guidance of Allah and Rasool :saws1:, is the way out of this problem.

:wa:

:wa:

Do you mean that if the Muslims in general were less materialistic and followed Islam correctly, then there would not have been a ban on the Niqaab?

I think the ban was due to poor public relations between Muslims and non-Muslims in Spain.

[Muezzin]

The ban, which was approved by the council in May, is largely symbolic, as Muslims make up just 3 percent of Lleida's population, and there are only a handful of women living there who wear the burqa and the niqab.

What an efficient use of the time, money and resources of Lleida's local government.

[أحمد]

:sl:

:wa:

Do you mean that if the Muslims in general were less materialistic and followed Islam correctly, then there would not have been a ban on the Niqaab?

I think the ban was due to poor public relations between Muslims and non-Muslims in Spain.

Spain was once ruled by Muslims, and was lost "mainly due to" the fact that, rather than utilising most of their resources on needs; they began to get more materialistic, and into "stuff" like music. While they were at it, they slowly became a weaker force in Spain, and eventually driven out and killed.

We are reminded of the events annually, by the celebrators of "April fools day".

So yes, we as an Ummah are at least partially responsible for the problems we experience.

A true bucket is one, which is able to hold water. The ummah has been broken into too many pieces, to have any real strength to handle problems. One certainly can't be expected to "fetch water in a sieve".

We as an Ummah, need to wake up, and realise that unless we "get our acts together", its our own loss.

I'm not saying, pick a sword and strike someone- no, that'd be wrong anyway. Killing the innocent is haraam, which is one point that people sometimes fail to realise. So, when they think they've finally woken up; they've actually "lost the plot", and have failed to recognise Islam.

Islam is about justice, so if you're working at a butchers shop; weigh the meat after cutting it. Islam is about submitting yourself to Allah, so next time one wishes to show off their perfectly prayed nawaafil to their friends; one must think, "am I praying with submission to Allah, or to impress these people?". Above all, as long as you're still alive; its not too late. One must'nt lose hope, in the mercy of Allah.

The account of Uhud is a great example, and with it- we can better understand our position today.

:wa:

[أحمد]

:sl:

What an efficient use of the time, money and resources of Lleida's local government.

Quran, 8:36

Indeed, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to avert [people] from the way of Allah . So they will spend it; then it will be for them a [source of] regret; then they will be overcome. And those who have disbelieved - unto Hell they will be gathered.

:wa:

[Pygoscelis]

I think the ban was due to poor public relations between Muslims and non-Muslims in Spain.

Seems pretty obvious to me that you are correct.

[Thucydides1987]

they began to get more materialistic, and into "stuff" like music

But music is a beautiful form of art, with which people engage from the depths of their hearts to create. How could it be a bad thing? If you're saying that it should be banned, well then that's even worse than communism.

[Amira_Zelda]

Ugh... and here I thought the banning of burqa and the niqab was never going to reach Spain..

:(.. i was wrong... i hope they dont also ban the hijab ! i dont understand what is so threatening with covering your body !??? People should just leave it alone and let these Muslim women wear what they feel is right... i will pray for my sisters in spain !! :)

[almahdali]

Banning niqab itself is an act of violating human rights in fashion :D Secularists are so funny, they are no better than any other people with their shallow ideologies.

[almahdali]

I just can say to the municipal authority, vosotros todos son embarazoso!

[Mike3449]

:sl:

The ummah is, and has been asleep for a long time. There's little to wonder, how easily people take advantage of the situation.

:wa:

Asleep?

Maybe it's Spain who woke up?

[جوري]

Asleep? Maybe it's Spain who woke up?

woke up to what exactly you twit? Maybe more of this?

[Mike3449]

woke up to what exactly you twit? Maybe more of this?

What is that a picture of?

A Muslim torturing an infidel?

[جوري]

What is that a picture of? A Muslim torturing an infidel?

You've heard of the inquisition?lol, look who I am asking.. Of course not, you do get your information from pipes' excrement!

[Ramadhan]

What is that a picture of?

A Muslim torturing an infidel?

Clearly it's a picture of christian priests torturing almost naked men.

It seems those priests are enjoying what they saw.

I guess that's the priests' thing, to get their rocks off.

[Tawangar]

Banning niqab itself is an act of violating human rights in fashion :D Secularists are so funny, they are no better than any other people with their shallow ideologies.

;D
True.
Wa salam.