Portugal approves burqa ban in defense of women’s rights and national identity
Portugal’s parliament has voted to approve a nationwide ban on full-face coverings, including the burqa and niqab, in most public spaces — a move hailed by conservatives as a victory for women’s rights, equality, and national sovereignty.
The bill, originally introduced by the Chega Party, passed with the support of the center-right Social Democratic Party (PSD). It still awaits final ratification by the president and possible review by the Constitutional Court, but its passage marks a decisive political moment for Portugal — a country long resistant to such measures.
Ban targets public spaces, protects individual freedom
The proposed legislation prohibits anyone from wearing garments that conceal the face in public areas such as streets, schools, government buildings, and transport systems. Violators could face fines between €200 and €4,000, while individuals found guilty of forcing another person to wear a face covering could face up to three years in prison.
Exceptions are allowed for religious ceremonies, medical reasons, or specific security contexts such as on airplanes or inside embassies.
Chega leader André Ventura celebrated the vote as a “historic day for Portugal,” saying also: “It is a victory that is not partisan, it is a victory for the country... it is not any persecution against any religion, it is not any persecution against any minority.”
Opposition cries discrimination
Left-wing and progressive MPs fiercely opposed the measure, calling it “xenophobic” and “unnecessary” given that the number of women wearing burqas in Portugal is minimal. Critics argued that the ban unfairly targets Muslims and risks stigmatizing minorities.
However, supporters counter that the legislation is not about religion, but about public safety, equality, and visibility in civil society — principles that apply to all citizens.
A European trend of cultural ddefense
If signed into law, Portugal will join several European nations — including France, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, and the Netherlands — that have enacted similar bans over the past decade.
Supporters of the measure say it places Portugal among countries that defend Western democratic values against creeping cultural relativism. They argue that national identity and social cohesion cannot survive when society is pressured to accept practices that contradict the principles of equality and openness.
The president has the authority to veto the bill or send it to the Constitutional Court for review, but observers expect strong public backing to push it forward.
A statement of cultural confidence
For many in Portugal, the vote represents more than a policy decision — it is a declaration of confidence in the country’s cultural heritage and moral clarity.
Amid growing debates over immigration, assimilation, and the limits of multiculturalism, the burqa ban signals that Portugal will not follow Europe’s progressive drift toward ideological accommodation.
It is, supporters say, a stand for the dignity of women, the sovereignty of the nation, and the visibility of its people — a clear message that freedom in Europe cannot mean submission to radical or illiberal customs
