The initiative, presented by the Vox group, was dismissed with votes against from the PSOE, Coalición Canaria (CC), Agrupación Socialista Gomera (ASG), Agrupación Herreña Independiente (AHI), and Nueva Canarias-Bloque Canarista (NC-BC). The Partido Popular (PP) chose to abstain.
Beyond the prohibition of full-face veils, the proposed law also included amendments to the law on the rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain to enable deportations, and modifications to the public security protection law.
“"This is not a relevant social problem in Canarias."
During the debate, the deputy spokesperson for the proposing group defended the measure, arguing that while religious freedom should be respected, garments like the burka or niqab, in their view, open the door to the oppression of women. They noted that several European countries have already implemented similar restrictions and denied that the initiative was “racist.”
Parliamentary groups that voted against or abstained criticized the proposal, deeming it a “cultural battle against a specific religion” and highlighting the lack of regional competence to legislate on state matters. It was emphasized that the initiative neither protects women nor enhances security, and that Canarias is a land open to the coexistence of diverse cultures.
“"This initiative is neither feminist nor does it seek to guarantee the dignity of women."
Representatives from various parties, including the PP, while critical of the full-face veil, considered the proposal “science fiction” at the regional level and noted that it included “disproportionate punishments.” The president of the Socialist Group labeled the proposal as “pure racism” and accused the proposing group of instrumentalizing feminism for their ideological battles.
