Portugal's parliament has passed a bill banning face veils worn for "gender or religious" reasons in public, sparking concerns it disproportionately targets Muslim women who wear such coverings. The legislation, proposed by far-right Chega party, prohibits burqas and niqabs from being worn in most public places, with fines ranging between 200 euros and 4,000 euros for those caught breaking the law.
The bill would exempt face veils from being worn on airplanes, diplomatic premises, and places of worship. It is expected that Portugal will soon become one of several European countries to have partial or full bans on face coverings, joining Austria, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands in their laws.
Despite relatively few women in Portugal wearing such coverings, the issue has generated significant controversy similar to other European countries. Chega cited France's rationale for banning face coverings as its basis, arguing that hiding one's face subjects individuals – especially women – to exclusion and inferiority, which is incompatible with principles of liberty, equality, and human dignity.
However, lawmakers from left-leaning parties have expressed disagreement with the bill, describing it as a tactic used solely to target foreigners and those who hold different faiths. Socialist party lawmaker Pedro Delgado Alves claimed that while no woman should be forced to wear a veil, the far-right party's approach was misguided. His own party voted against the bill.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa still needs to approve or veto the legislation. If it is signed into law, Portugal will become part of a growing list of European countries with laws regulating face coverings, sparking ongoing debates about freedom of expression and religious tolerance.
The bill would exempt face veils from being worn on airplanes, diplomatic premises, and places of worship. It is expected that Portugal will soon become one of several European countries to have partial or full bans on face coverings, joining Austria, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands in their laws.
Despite relatively few women in Portugal wearing such coverings, the issue has generated significant controversy similar to other European countries. Chega cited France's rationale for banning face coverings as its basis, arguing that hiding one's face subjects individuals – especially women – to exclusion and inferiority, which is incompatible with principles of liberty, equality, and human dignity.
However, lawmakers from left-leaning parties have expressed disagreement with the bill, describing it as a tactic used solely to target foreigners and those who hold different faiths. Socialist party lawmaker Pedro Delgado Alves claimed that while no woman should be forced to wear a veil, the far-right party's approach was misguided. His own party voted against the bill.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa still needs to approve or veto the legislation. If it is signed into law, Portugal will become part of a growing list of European countries with laws regulating face coverings, sparking ongoing debates about freedom of expression and religious tolerance.