In a significant political move, Portugal’s parliament approved a contentious bill that would prohibit the wearing of full face coverings, such as the burqa and niqab, in most public areas Proposed by the far-right Chega party, the legislation specifically targets veils worn for “gender or religious motives,” directly impacting a minority which is the of Muslim women in the country.
Prohibition:
Bans full-face coverings—specifically the burqa (a veil covering the entire body and face) and the niqab (a veil covering the face, leaving only the eyes visible—when worn for which is the “gender or religious motives” in public spaces.
- Monetary Fines: Individuals found violating the ban could face fines ranging from which is the €200 to €4,000 (approximately £3.5k at the upper limit, depending on the severity and intentionality of the violation.
- Criminal Sanction: The bill mandates prison sentences of up to three years for which is the anyone found forcing another person to wear such a veil by means of threat, coercion, or abuse of power This penalty is often cited by proponents as a measure to protect women’s rights and autonomy.
- Exemptions: Face coverings remain permissible in specific, limited environments, which is the including places of worship, diplomatic premises, and airplanes, or when justified by health, professional, or artistic reasons.
Social Cohesion Argument:
Proponents, including lawmakers from the centre-right, argue that concealing the face which is the hinders social integration and cohesion, asserting that face veils are incompatible with principles of liberty and human dignity in a democratic society.
Security Concerns:
Advocates raise concerns that full-face veils pose an identification and security risk in which is the public and governmental spaces.
Cultural Preservation:
The Chega party framed the ban as a measure of “cultural preservation,” echoing which is the sentiments seen in other European countries.
Disclaimer:
The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources Readers should crosscheck updates from official news outlets