Portugal President Enacts 'Burqa Law' Banning Face Coverings in Public

Portugal’s President Antonio Jose Seguro has reportedly enacted legislation banning face-covering attire in public spaces, a move widely regarded as targeting Muslim women who wear full-face veils.

Fines for violators will range from €150 to €3,000 (₹16,802 to ₹3,36,039). Exemptions have been provided for health, professional, artistic, or weather-related reasons, alongside allowances inside places of worship, diplomatic missions, and aboard aircraft.

"The face must be considered a central element of human identity and communication," President Seguro said in a statement late Tuesday, acknowledging that the issue holds "great social and cultural sensitivity".

Coalition Backing and Banned Practices

Dubbed the "burqa law" by local media, the legislation cleared parliament in July with support from the governing right-wing coalition and far-right parties. Left-wing parties voted against the measure.

Beyond prohibiting clothing designed to conceal the face or hinder identification in public spaces, the law explicitly bans forcing an individual to cover their face based on gender, religion, age, or origin.

Legal Pushback and Islamophobia Warnings

Prior to its enactment, the original bill reportedly introduced by the far-right Chega party received negative opinions from legal institutions, including the Portuguese Bar Association, the High Council of the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the Portuguese Association of Women Lawyers. Critics also raised concerns regarding its potential unconstitutionality.

Opposing the proposal, the centre-left Socialist Party (PS), green-left Livre, and the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) warned that the ban risks fuelling Islamophobia.

Debating Security and Political Intent

The PCP reportedly argued that the measure had "nothing to do with women's rights, nor with security issues", framing it instead as an effort "solely about fuelling hate speech and violence against those who are different, fuelling racist and xenophobic discourse."

Livre accused the right-wing factions of "hypocrisy" and conducting a "biased" debate, alleging an attempt to trigger "a moral panic over a supposed Islamic invasion that the far right so often talks about."

Meanwhile, the centre-right Social Democratic Party (PSD) reportedly joined far-right legislators in backing the proposal through parliament.