New Delhi, August 21: Portugal has introduced a significant ban on face coverings in public spaces, following France’s example. The government, led by President Antonio José Seguro, announced that individuals covering their faces in public could face fines ranging from 150 to 3,000 euros (approximately 17,000 to 335,000 Indian Rupees).
This move has raised concerns, particularly regarding its impact on women who wear burqas. According to international media reports, the new law was enacted after receiving support from the ruling right-wing coalition and far-right parties in Parliament. However, exemptions are provided for health, professional, artistic, or weather-related reasons, as well as in religious sites, diplomatic missions, and airplanes.
President Seguro emphasized that the face is a crucial element of human identity and communication. Local media in Portugal reported that the law was approved by Parliament in July. Leftist parties opposed the legislation, arguing that it targets specific communities.
The law prohibits clothing designed to conceal the face or obstruct identification, regardless of gender, religion, age, or origin. According to Euro News, the bill, introduced by the far-right Chega party, has faced backlash from the Portuguese Bar Association, the High Council of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the Portuguese Women Lawyers Association, all expressing concerns about its constitutionality.
The center-left Socialist Party (PS), the Green-Left Livre, and the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) have warned that the law could exacerbate Islamophobia. In contrast, the center-right Social Democratic Party (PSD) has supported the measure.
The PS criticized the bill’s explanatory memorandum for its apparent Islamophobic intent, highlighting the risks posed to targeted communities in the current radicalized environment. The PCP argued that the proposal is unrelated to women’s rights or security, asserting that it promotes hate speech and violence against those who appear different, fueling racist and xenophobic ideologies.
It is noteworthy that France passed a similar law in 2010, which came into effect nationwide in April 2011.
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