On October 17, 2025, Portugal’s parliament approved a controversial bill banning the wearing of face-covering garments such as the burqa and niqab in public spaces.
The legislation has sparked strong reactions across the political spectrum and among civil society groups.
While supporters hail it as a step toward protecting women’s rights and ensuring public security, critics argue it discriminates against Muslim women and reflects a worrying trend of populist politics in the country.
The Scope and Content of the Bill
The bill prohibits the wearing of face coverings for religious or gender-related reasons in public places, including streets, public buildings, and transportation.
Specifically, it targets garments such as the burqa and niqab, which cover the face partially or entirely, making identification difficult.
Violators could face fines ranging from €200 to €4,000. In more severe cases, such as coercion to wear such garments, prison sentences of up to three years may be imposed.
The law allows exceptions in specific contexts, including on airplanes, in diplomatic premises, and during religious ceremonies held in places of worship.
Proponents argue that these exceptions preserve religious freedom in private or controlled environments, while ensuring that the public sphere remains open, transparent, and secure.
Political Backing and Parliamentary Debate
The bill passed with support from right-leaning and centrist parties, including the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Iniciativa Liberal (IL), and CDS – People’s Party (CDS-PP), alongside the sponsoring party Chega.
Left-wing parties, including the Socialist Party (PS), the Left Bloc (BE), and the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), voted against it, citing concerns over religious freedom and the stigmatization of Muslim women. Two smaller parties abstained from the vote.
Chega’s leader, André Ventura, framed the bill as a defense of secularism and women’s rights, asserting that no woman in Portugal should be forced to cover her face.
However, opponents in parliament argued that the law targets a virtually non-existent issue, as very few women in Portugal wear the burqa or niqab. They accused Chega of using the issue to promote anti-Muslim sentiment and distract from more pressing social challenges.
Social Context and Reactions
Portugal has a relatively small Muslim population, and even fewer women wear full-face coverings. As such, the bill’s practical impact is expected to be minimal.
Nevertheless, the symbolic weight of the legislation is significant. Muslim leaders and human rights organizations have expressed concern that the measure could foster exclusion, deepen cultural divides, and stigmatize religious minorities.
Some members of the Muslim community have pointed out that face coverings are not mandated by Islam, and that individual women should have the right to choose what they wear.
Others view the law as an unnecessary intrusion into personal and religious freedoms, especially when there is no evidence of widespread coercion or public safety risks related to face veils in Portugal.
Next Steps
Although the bill has been approved by parliament, it still requires the formal signature of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa before becoming law.
The president has several options: he can sign the bill into law, veto it and return it to parliament, or refer it to the Constitutional Court to assess its compatibility with the Portuguese Constitution.
Legal experts have already raised concerns that the law may violate constitutional protections on freedom of religion and expression. If challenged, the Constitutional Court may rule that the ban infringes upon individual rights, especially in the absence of clear public harm or necessity.
The Latest European Country to Do So
If the law is enacted, Portugal will join a number of European countries that have adopted similar restrictions, including France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Austria.
These laws have often been met with both domestic and international criticism, particularly from human rights organizations that argue such bans disproportionately affect Muslim women and may violate international law.
Supporters, however, argue that these laws promote integration, gender equality, and secularism, ensuring that the public sphere remains inclusive and recognizable.
Whether Portugal's version of the ban will stand legal scrutiny and gain broader public support remains to be seen.
