Portugal approves “burqa law,” banning face coverings in public spaces

António José Seguro, the president of Portugal, signed on Tuesday the act known as the “burqa law,” which bans face coverings in public places.

The Portuguese Parliament had approved the law on July 17. The governing parties PSD and CDS voted in favor, together with the Liberal Initiative and the far-right Chega party, which had prepared the initial draft.

The draft was subsequently amended to avoid potential constitutional issues, particularly those concerning religious freedom.

In its final wording, the measure is based primarily on arguments related to the preservation of security and public order, without directly referring to religion.

“Following the legislative changes submitted, the President of the Republic has decided to promulgate it,” the Portuguese Presidency said in a statement.

In reaching his decision, President Seguro also relied on several rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). According to the Presidency, he agrees with the view that the face plays an essential role in human identity and communication, as it represents the minimum element that enables mutual recognition among citizens.

The statement also emphasizes that a reality in which only women would be required to cover their faces completely would create an inequality incompatible with the principle of equality and the equal dignity of men and women.

According to the Presidency of Portugal, these principles are among the main foundations on which European democracies are built.