12.12.2025 19:31
A far-right Vox Party member in Spain, Virginia Martinez, entered parliament wearing a burka-like outfit to support her party's proposal to ban "full-face covering Islamic garments in public spaces." The action caused a brief crisis in the assembly, and reactions followed one after another.
The Spanish parliament was suddenly thrown into chaos when Vox Party deputy Virginia Martinez entered the chamber wearing a burka-like outfit. Martinez's act, which she performed in protest of her party's bill seeking to ban burkas and veils in public spaces, led to astonishment and strong reactions in the assembly.
SHE DID IT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE BAN PROPOSAL
Martinez timed her performance to coincide with the session discussing Vox's bill to ban burkas and veils in public areas. For this reason, she appeared in parliament dressed in an outfit that completely covered her face and body.
The deputy's entrance in this manner caused other deputies to look at each other in astonishment.
THE SPEAKER DID NOT ALLOW IT
The President of the Murcia Regional Parliament, Miryam Fuertes, did not allow Martinez to speak while wearing the veil.
"I cannot allow you to speak like this, please change your outfit," she warned the deputy.
Martinez responded, "The parliament is banning me from speaking in this outfit. If these clothes cannot be worn at the center of regional sovereignty, they should not be worn in the public spaces of the region either."
Government spokesperson Marcos Ortuno harshly criticized the act, stating that the parliament is "not a stage."
'FABRIC PRISON' OUTBURST
Martinez then removed the veil from her face and delivered her speech. The deputy, who made very strong statements regarding burkas and veils, argued that these garments "do not mean freedom for any woman" and stated that women are "imprisoned in fabric prisons."
THE PROPOSAL WAS REJECTED
The Vox proposal to ban burkas and veils was rejected by the votes of other parties. However, Martinez's act quickly resonated widely on social media and rose to the top of the national agenda.
Last month, a similar protest occurred when a senator entered a parliamentary session wearing a burka in Australia.