Portugal has formally joined a growing group of European countries restricting face-covering garments in public places after President António José Seguro signed a law widely referred to by local media as the “burqa law.”
The law prohibits clothing that conceals a person’s face or makes identification impossible in public spaces. Violators face fines ranging from €150 to €3,000.
Seguro said in a statement that the face should be regarded as a central element of personal identity and human communication.
The legislation includes several exceptions. Face coverings are permitted for health, professional, artistic and weather-related reasons, as well as in places of worship, diplomatic missions and on aircraft. The law also prohibits forcing another person to cover their face on the basis of gender, religion, age or ethnicity.
The bill was proposed by the right-wing Chega party and was approved by parliament in July with support from the governing centre-right coalition and other right-wing parties. Left-wing parties opposed the legislation.
The measure has drawn criticism from several legal and civil-society bodies. The Portuguese Bar Association, the Supreme Council of the Public Prosecution Service and the Association of Women Lawyers raised concerns about the law, including questions over its compatibility with constitutional protections.
The Socialist Party and other left-wing groups have warned that the legislation could contribute to Islamophobia and increase hostility or violence against minority communities.
The law comes amid a broader European debate over face-covering garments, security, religious freedom and women’s rights. Countries including France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland and Norway have adopted various restrictions on face coverings in public places, although the scope and penalties differ from country to country.
Portugal’s new legislation is expected to face continued scrutiny over how it balances public identification requirements with constitutional rights, freedom of religion and protection against discrimination.
