Portugal’s parliament on Friday approved a controversial bill, proposed by the far-right Chega party, to ban face veils worn for “gender or religious motives” in most public spaces — a move that effectively targets burqas and niqabs traditionally worn by Muslim women.
Under the bill, proposed fines for wearing face veils in public would range from 200 to 4,000 euros, while anyone found guilty of forcing another person to wear a face veil could face prison sentences of up to three years, according to the draft legislation.
Exemptions In Certain Places
Face veils would still be allowed in aeroplanes, diplomatic premises and places of worship.
If signed into law, the bill would place Portugal alongside several European countries — including France, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands — that already enforce full or partial bans on face veils. However, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa still has the option to veto the bill or refer it to the Constitutional Court for a constitutional review.
During Friday’s parliamentary session, Chega leader Andre Ventura was confronted by several female lawmakers from left-wing parties who opposed the bill, but it passed with support from the centre-right coalition.
‘Protecting’ Females
“We are today protecting female members of parliament, your daughters, our daughters, from having to use burqas in this country one day,” Ventura said.
Andreia Neto, a lawmaker from the ruling Social Democratic Party, said before the vote: “This is a debate on equality between men and women. No woman should be forced to veil her face.”
Polarising Issue
Only a small minority of Muslim women in Europe cover their faces, and in Portugal such veils are very rare.
But full-face coverings such as niqabs and burqas have become a polarising issue across Europe, with some arguing that they symbolise gender discrimination or can represent a security threat and should be outlawed.
(With inputs from Reuters)
