Europe Asia News

The bill, proposed by the far-right Chega Party, will prohibit wearing garments such as the burqa (a full-body covering for women) and the niqab (an Islamic face veil that covers the entire face except for the eyes) in most public spaces. Wearing veils will still be permitted on airplanes, in diplomatic buildings, and in places of worship.

The bill sets fines ranging from 200 to 4,000 euros for individuals wearing veils in public.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa must still approve the bill. He may either sign it, veto it, or refer it to the Constitutional Court for review.

If enacted, Portugal will join other European countries such as Austria, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands that have fully or partially banned the wearing of face and head coverings.

Chega justified its proposal by citing France and other EU countries as examples. The bill also received support from center-right parties.

The party stated that covering one’s face exposes individuals, particularly women, to “isolation and humiliation” and is incompatible with the principles of “freedom, equality, and human dignity.”

Left-wing lawmakers opposed the bill.

Center-left Socialist Party MP Pedro Delgado Alves, who voted against, said, “This initiative is being used solely to target foreigners — those of different faiths.”

Alves added that no woman should be forced to wear a veil but criticized the far-right party’s approach as wrong.