Portugal’s parliament on Friday passed a controversial bill that seeks to ban face coverings, such as the burqa and niqab, in most public spaces. The measure, proposed by the far-right Chega party, passed with the support of the ruling center-right coalition despite fierce opposition from left-wing lawmakers.
The proposed legislation explicitly prohibits face veils worn for “gender or religious motives” in public, a move widely seen as targeting Muslim women.
Fines and Prison for Non-Compliance
The bill includes severe penalties for non-compliance. Individuals caught wearing a full-face veil in public face fines ranging from €200 to €4,000 (approximately ₹17,500 to ₹3,50,000). Furthermore, anyone found guilty of coercing a person to wear a burqa could face prison terms of up to three years.
However, the ban would not apply to certain areas, including airplanes, diplomatic premises, and places of worship.
Chega party leader Andre Ventura argued that the bill was necessary to protect women’s rights and uphold national values. “We are today protecting female members of parliament, your daughters, our daughters, from having to use burqas in this country one day,” Ventura stated during the parliamentary session.
This sentiment was echoed by Andreia Neto, a lawmaker from the ruling Social Democratic Party, who framed the issue as a “debate on equality between men and women,” asserting, “No woman should be forced to veil her face.”
Left-Wing Opposition and Final Hurdles
The bill was strongly opposed by several left-leaning parties, whose female lawmakers directly challenged Ventura. Opponents view the legislation as discriminatory and an unwarranted attack on a small minority, as full-face veils are extremely rare in Portugal.
For the bill to become law, it still requires the assent of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The President retains the power to veto the bill or to refer it to the Constitutional Court for a review of its legality, a step that opponents of the ban are expected to advocate for.
Should the bill be signed into law, Portugal will join other European nations, including France, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands, which have already implemented full or partial bans on face coverings, reflecting a growing and polarizing debate across the continent regarding security, gender equality, and religious freedom.