The Portuguese Parliament Approved a Ban on Wearing the Burqa in Public Places

The proposal presented by the far-right party "Chega" was supported by the liberal-conservative Social Democratic Party, the conservatives from the "Social Democratic Center – People's Party," and the centrist party "Liberal Initiative." The other parties either abstained or voted against.

This concerns a bill that provides for a ban on "the use in public places of clothing intended to conceal or hinder the demonstration of the face," as is the case with the burqa. It also prohibits "forcing anyone to conceal their face for reasons of gender or religion," according to the parliamentary initiative.

However, there are exceptions. According to the provisions, the ban "does not apply" if the concealment of the face is "properly justified for health reasons or professional, artistic, entertainment, or advertising reasons."

The ban also "does not extend to airplanes and diplomatic and consular premises," and "faces may also be covered in places of worship and other sacred sites," the bill states.

The measures will apply in all public places, that is, "on public roads, as well as in places open to the public and used for public service," as well as "in all places where services are provided that are accessible to all citizens."

Fines from 200 euros

According to the "Chega" proposal, anyone who does not comply with the new rules will be punished with a fine ranging from 200 to 2,000 euros "in the case of an unintentional offense." This figure will increase to 400–4,000 euros if intentional violation of the law is confirmed.

In addition, anyone who "forces one or more persons to conceal their face through threats, violence, coercion, abuse of power, or exceeding authority" will also be punished "in accordance with Article 154 of the Penal Code," which provides for imprisonment of up to three years or a fine if there are no aggravating circumstances.

"Chega" Calls for Respect for Portuguese Customs

During parliamentary debates this Friday, the leader of "Chega," André Ventura, stated that "whoever arrives in Portugal, no matter where they come from, from whatever region they come from, and whatever customs and religion they profess, must comply with, respect, and ensure respect for the customs and values of this country."

Deputy Pedro Delgado Alves, representing the socialists, accused the far-right of wanting to "direct hatred towards these communities," which he believes also "have the right to respect."