Portugal has approved a controversial bill to ban face veils in most public spaces, marking a major shift in the country’s policies on religious attire. The bill, proposed by the far-right Chega party, specifically targets burqas and niqabs often worn by Muslim women for religious or cultural reasons.
Under the proposed legislation, anyone wearing face veils in public could face fines ranging from 200 to 4,000 euros ($234 to $4,670). Forcing someone to wear a veil would be punishable by up to three years in prison. The ban, however, would not apply to places like airplanes, embassies, or religious sites.
According to local media, the bill will now be reviewed by the parliamentary committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms, and Guarantees before being sent to the president for approval. If enacted, Portugal will join several European countries, including France, Belgium, Austria, and the Netherlands, that have already implemented similar restrictions.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa still has the option to veto the bill or refer it to the Constitutional Court for constitutional review.
During the parliamentary debate, Chega leader Andre Ventura defended the proposal, claiming it was about protecting women’s rights and national identity. “We are today protecting your daughters, our daughters, from having to use burqas in this country one day,” Ventura stated during the session.
In a social media post, Ventura described the approval as “a historic day for our democracy, identity, and women’s rights.”
Meanwhile, left-wing lawmakers and human rights advocates strongly criticized the bill, calling it discriminatory. Lawmaker Andreia Neto from the ruling Social Democratic Party argued that the discussion was about gender equality and freedom of choice.
Two smaller parties, People-Animals-Nature and Together for the People, abstained from voting, stating that the proposal promotes division and intolerance.
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Full-face coverings remain rare in Portugal, where only a small number of Muslim women wear burqas or niqabs. However, the debate has reignited broader European discussions about religious freedom, gender equality, and national identity.
