Sa Pobla.Any form of clothing or helmets, including the Islamic burka and niqab which hide the identity of a person, are now totally banned in public places in Sa Pobla.
Already-existing bylaws have been modified so that it is illegal for people to hide their faces in town squares, in market places and in residential streets.
The measures were instigated through a proposal by the Partido Popular (PP) party on the council. The move was supported by four independent parties, but the Balearic and Majorcan Socialists and a Regional League abstained.
The bylaw will become binding 30 days after its being published in the Balearic Islands Official Bulletin (BOIB) during which time residents have a chance to submit objections.
Once the ban is established as a law, it will be extended to government workers who provide services in the municipality or whose workplace is in official local authority buildings. Those in charge of the various departments will have the responsibility of informing their staff of the new law concerning the ban on concealing identity in public.
If individuals insist on ignoring the modifications to the bylaws, the Local Police are authorised to take action and force compliance.
Initial fines will be in the order of between 50 and 200 euros and in the event of repetition of the offence, the figure will be doubled. If a person insists on hiding their identity, fines will be successively multiplied up to a value of 3'000 euros.
Sa Pobla's Mayor, Biel Serra, denied yesterday that the measure had in any way been racially or culturally motivated. Being able to see people's faces clearly in the street was he said, a step to guarantee citizen safety.
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