Portugal bans full-face veils

Lisbon - Portugal's president has signed into law a measure banning the concealment of faces in public, a move widely perceived as targeting Muslim women who wear full-face veils. President Antonio Jose Seguro declared, "The face must be considered a central element of human identity and communication." The final version of the legislation, dubbed the "burqa law" after the garments it targets, was passed by parliament in July with support from both the right-wing governing coalition and the far-right.

Left-wing parties opposed the measure. The law prohibits wearing garments designed to conceal the face or hinder identification in public areas, as well as compelling individuals to cover their faces based on gender, religion, age, or nationality. Civil liberties advocates have long warned that such bans can violate women's rights by dictating their clothing choices.

Seguro recognized the issue's "great social and cultural sensitivity." In Portugal, offenders face fines ranging from 150 to 3,000 euros ($170-$3,500). Exemptions exist for health, professional, artistic, or weather-related reasons, as well as within places of worship, diplomatic missions, and on airplanes.