Portugal bans full-face veils and other garments that conceal a person’s face in public. The law is enacted by the president and prohibits covering the face or preventing identification in public spaces.
Portuguese media and rights groups describe the measure as a “burqa law,” widely seen as aimed at Muslim women who wear full-face veils. President Antonio Jose Seguro says the face is a “central element of human identity and communication.” The law follows parliamentary adoption earlier in the year, with support from the right-wing governing coalition and far-right parties and opposition from left-wing parties. Critics and campaigners argue that such rules can erode women’s rights by restricting what people can wear.
The law includes exemptions for certain circumstances, including health, professional, artistic, or weather-related needs, as well as within places of worship and for diplomatic missions and on airplanes. Violators face fines ranging from €150 to €3,000, according to the reporting.
