Portugal passes law banning full-face veils in public

A woman wearing a niqab. Photo: AFP

On October 18, 2025, the Portuguese Parliament approved a bill banning the wearing of clothing that fully covers the face – including the burqa and niqab – in public spaces. The news was reported by The European Conservative.

The bill provides for fines ranging from €200 to €4,000 for violations of the ban. However, the legislation allows for exceptions in certain cases for medical, cultural, or religious reasons. The authors of the initiative emphasized that the measure "aims to strengthen public safety, facilitate identification, and promote women’s rights and social integration.”

The leader of the party behind the proposal stated during the debate that the new law is designed to help women who are forced to hide their faces, adding that immigrants and others arriving in Portugal must adhere to Portuguese social norms, including the expectation that faces be visible in public.

Supporters of the measure also noted that the ban would simplify identification, public order and uphold the belief that no tradition or imposition should erase an individual’s presence in society.

Opponents of the bill accused its authors of restricting freedom of religion and discriminating against Muslim women. However, a majority of parliamentarians agreed that the legislation aligns with the principles of equality and security.

The bill has now been forwarded to the parliamentary committee on constitutional affairs for final amendments before the decisive vote.

If enacted, Portugal will join the list of European countries that have already restricted the wearing of veils and face-covering masks in public spaces – including France, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, and Switzerland.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Italy had proposed banning the burqa and tightening oversight of mosques.

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