BURQA LAW: Portugal Begins To Enforce Ban on Face Coverings in Public Spaces
Those who breach the law face fines ranging from $175 to $3,500.
In Portugal, President António José Seguro has enacted a law that bans face coverings in public spaces.
The legislation is seen as targeting Muslim women who wear burqas and niqabs.
There are exemptions for health, professional, artistic, or weather-related reasons.
Face coverings are also permitted in places of worship, diplomatic missions, and on aircraft.
Euronews reported:
“’The face must be considered a central element of human identity and communication’, Seguro said in a statement late Tuesday.
The legislation, dubbed the ‘burqa law’ by local media, was approved by parliament in July with the support of the governing right-wing coalition and far-right parties. Left-wing parties voted against it.”