Spanish city bans burqa, niqab in public spaces

BARCELONA: The Spanish city of Lleida on Friday approved a ban on full-face coverings in most public spaces in a rare step targeting the Muslim burqa and niqab in the country. Unlike European neighbors such as France, Portugal or Belgium, Spain has no national legislation banning or restricting the use of the garments worn by some Muslim women. A provincial capital of around 150,000 people in the northeastern region of Catalonia, around 150 kilometers (90 miles) west of Barcelona, Lleida bann