Portugal Parliament Bans Burqa in Public Spaces: What You Need to Know

Parliament Approves Ban on Burqa in Public Spaces

The Portuguese Parliament has approved a ban on the burqa in public spaces. This proposal, introduced by the Chega party, received support from the PSD, Iniciativa Liberal, and CDS.

Voting Breakdown and Opposition

• PS, Livre, PCP, and Bloco de Esquerda voted against the measure.
• PAN and JPP abstained from voting.

Next Steps and Legal Details

The bill will now proceed to the parliamentary committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms, and Guarantees for further discussion. The law explicitly prohibits forcing someone to cover their face based on gender or religion, with fines ranging from 200 to 4,000 euros for violations.

Exceptions to the Ban

• The ban does not apply in airplanes, diplomatic and consular installations.
• Face coverings are permitted in places of worship, other sacred sites, and for health-related reasons.