The Mossos d'Esquadra [tn: Catalonian police] have created a register of Muslim women who wear the burka. In a story on its front page, the Catalonian newspaper El Periódico says that for the last year police officers have been noting down and registering cases of women who wear the niqab or burka.

According to this information, various police units of the Generalitat [tn: Catalonian government] have received instructions to note down and relay internally every new case of women dressed in these Islamic garments. Investigators see a relationship between the use of this attire and the flourishing of Salafism in the region.

The police of the Generalitat want to know how many niqabs and burkas are being used in Catalunya, in what areas, and, insofar as possible, identify the women who are wearing this garment.

The creation of this registry is related to the Generalitat's aim of banning the use of the full veil in public spaces.

Catalunya has been to the forefront of taking measures against the use of the burka, although they have not been free of controversy. Besides, the use of the burka has raised the question of religious liberty.

This is exactly the argument that was put forward in the judgement of the Supreme Court which struck down the burka ban in Lleida. The high court indicated that a town council had no power to regulate or take a decision in a matter concerning religious liberty.