The President of the Republic, António José Seguro, has promulgated legislation restricting the concealment of the face in public spaces, commonly referred to as the “burqa law.” Belém Palace acknowledged that the legislation concerns “a matter of great social and cultural sensitivity” where balancing competing rights is difficult.
Nevertheless, the President decided to promulgate the decree after considering parliamentary amendments. The legislation establishes rules for facial visibility and identification in public places. While often described as a burqa ban, it applies more broadly to face covering and includes exceptions.
Parliament approved the final text on July 17th with votes from PSD, Chega, Liberal Initiative, and CDS-PP. Left-wing parties voted against, while the sole PAN deputy abstained. Madeira MP Francisco Gomes (Chega) welcomed the measure, making strong claims about Islam and immigration, arguing Islam is incompatible with Western values and Portuguese society.
