Portugal parliament passes law banning face‑covering garments in public spaces

On 17 July 2026 the Portuguese Assembly approved a bill that forbids covering the face in public areas. The measure, promoted by the far‑right Chega party and backed by the centre‑right PSD, CDS‑PP and Liberal Initiative, targets garments such as the burka and niqab. It passed the final plenary vote with Chega, PSD, CDS‑PP and IL in favour, while the Socialists, Livre, Bloco de Esquerda and the Communist Party voted against and PAN and JPP abstained.

The text replaces earlier proposals that included a prison term of up to three years with administrative penalties: fines of €150–€750 for negligence and €400–€3 000 for intentional violations. The law now frames the restriction as a public‑security and identification issue rather than a religious one. President António José Seguro must now sign, veto or refer the bill to the Constitutional Court.

Human‑rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned the legislation as discriminatory and a breach of women’s freedom of expression. Critics argue it isolates Muslim women and undermines Portugal’s commitment to religious liberty.