The Portuguese government has approved a new law banning the wearing of the burqa and niqab in public spaces, mirroring similar legislation already in place in countries such as France and Denmark.
The proposal was put forward by the far-right party Chega and received backing from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Liberal Initiative (IL) and CDS-PP. The Socialist Party (PS), Livre, Communist Party (PCP) and Left Bloc (BE) voted against it, while PAN and JPP abstained.
The legislation prohibits “clothing designed to conceal the face”, with the stated aim of protecting public safety and ensuring clear visual identification. Chega argued that “the burqa represents a form of oppression against women and a threat to public security”.
However, left-leaning parties, including the PS and BE, condemned the measure as a violation of individual freedoms, warning that it could infringe on rights to religious expression and personal liberty.
Chega’s bill was first introduced in the Assembly of the Republic at the end of June, proposing a ban on “the use, in public spaces, of clothing intended to conceal or obstruct the display of the face”, as well as “the prohibition of coercing anyone to cover their face for gender or religious reasons”.
The proposal includes several exceptions, such as on aircraft, diplomatic and consular premises, and in places of worship or other sacred sites. It also allows exemptions for health reasons, professional or artistic purposes, security considerations, advertising, or weather conditions, as well as in any other cases permitted by law.
Penalties for non-compliance range from €200 to €2,000 for negligence, with fines doubling in cases of intent. Those found guilty of forcing another person to conceal their face through “threats, violence, coercion, or abuse of authority” would face prosecution under Article 154 of the Penal Code, which covers aggravated bodily harm.
In its explanatory statement, Chega argues that the Portuguese state is secular, insisting there is no justification for allowing “the display of religious symbols in public institutions such as non-religious schools, hospitals, public transport and other state-run or state-owned spaces”.
The far-right party also pointed to France’s ban on full-face veils in public spaces, noting that the European Court of Human Rights has upheld such measures as legitimate.
Chega contends that public safety is a fundamental right for all citizens, regardless of origin, and that it is the state’s duty to guarantee that right. Citing the French law, the party stated that “concealing one’s face violates the minimum requirements for life in society” and argued that doing so “subjects individuals to exclusion and a sense of inferiority incompatible with the principles of freedom, equality and human dignity”.
The party further maintained that in Portugal, respect for women’s dignity is often invoked but rarely upheld. In its proposal, Chega calls for “the adoption of measures not only aimed at ensuring citizens’ safety in general, but also specifically designed to promote the principles of dignity and respect for women, principles that should guide any democratic state governed by the rule of law.”
The burqa, an Islamic garment that covers the entire body and face with a mesh screen for vision, and the niqab, which covers the face but leaves the eyes visible, are both traditional forms of dress worn by some Muslim women.
