Portugal enacts 'burqa law' banning face coverings in public space

Portugal has implemented a ban on face coverings in public areas following the president's approval of a law initially proposed by the right-wing Chega party. President Antonio Jose Seguro signed the measure on Tuesday, citing an issue of "great social and cultural sensitivity," as reported by Anadolu Ajansi.

Seguro's decision was influenced by amendments made during the parliamentary process, which reinforced his support for the law. He emphasized social integration, non-discrimination, public security, and European Court of Human Rights rulings as key factors in his decision. For the President of the Republic, an uncovered face represents a crucial aspect of social trust, a defining characteristic of Portuguese society.

Daily interactions in Portugal are based on mutual recognition and the potential for direct relationships between individuals. The president argued that allowing women, specifically Muslim women, to cover their faces completely would create an asymmetry incompatible with the values of parity and equal dignity between men and women, principles upheld by European democracies.

Amnesty International Portugal criticized the law as discriminatory, highlighting its potential threat to the rights of Muslim women who choose to cover their faces. The organization emphasized that in a free society like Portugal, each person should be able to express their identity and beliefs within a framework of common rules that foster a shared experience, a principle endorsed by the European Court of Human Rights.

Portugal joins several European nations, including France, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, and the Netherlands, in imposing full or partial restrictions on face coverings in public spaces.