Portugal bans the use of face coverings in public places

President António José Seguro of Portugal has signed a new law banning anyone from wearing a face covering in public spaces in the country.

The new law approved by parliament in July has been widely criticized for targeting Muslim women who wear the niqab.

The law prohibits clothing or other items designed to hide a person’s face or prevent identification in public spaces. Forcing another person to cover their face on the basis of gender, religion, age or origin is also an offence.

Defending the act, Seguro said the face plays an important role in human interactions.

“The face should be considered a central element of human identity and communication,” Seguro said in a statement late Tuesday.

The law, referred to by Portuguese media as the “burqa law”, is supported by the right-wing coalition and the ruling right-wing party, while left-wing parties oppose it.

Under the new law, violators could face fines ranging from €150 to €3,000.

But the restrictions include exceptions for health, professional, artistic and weather-related reasons. The law also does not apply to places of worship, diplomatic missions and on airplanes.

The law has faced criticism from opposition parties and legal organisations, with concerns over its potential impact on religious freedom and the risk of encouraging discrimination against the Muslim community.

The Portuguese Socialist Party (PS), Livre and the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) opposed the move, warning that it could contribute to Islamophobia.

The PS described the law as having “Islamophobic aims”, while the PCP argued that the law “has nothing to do with women’s rights, or security issues” and instead aims to incite hostility towards minority groups.

Portugal now joins a number of European countries that have introduced restrictions on the use of face coverings in public spaces, although the scope and exceptions vary by country.