Lisbon (Portugal), October 19, 2025: Portugal’s Parliament has approved a controversial bill that bans the wearing of face veils in public places, a move widely viewed as aimed at restricting Islamic garments such as the burqa and niqab, Euronews reported.
The legislation, introduced by the far-right Chega party, gained backing from the centre-right Social Democratic Party (PSD), Liberal Initiative, and CDS–People’s Party. Lawmakers from left-leaning parties — including the Socialist Party (PS), Livre, Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), and Left Bloc — opposed the bill.
Under the proposed law, the use of clothing that “conceals or obstructs the display of the face” in public spaces is prohibited. The measure also criminalizes forcing someone to cover their face for gender or religious reasons.
However, the bill includes exceptions for cases where face covering is necessary — such as for health, professional, artistic, or security reasons, as well as during religious worship or in places of diplomatic representation.
The legislation will now move to the parliamentary committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms, and Guarantees for review and possible amendments before returning for a final vote. It will then require approval from President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who could either sign, veto, or refer it to the Constitutional Court.
If enacted, the ban would apply across all public areas — including streets, government offices, and venues providing public services — as well as during public demonstrations and sporting events.
Violators could face penalties ranging from €200 to €2,000 for negligence, and between €400 and €4,000 for deliberate violations, according to Euronews.
