Portugal’s parliament approves far-right party’s bill to ban face veils

If measure is signed into law, Portugal would articulation respective European countries which already person afloat oregon partial bans.

Portugal has approved a measure to prohibition look veils utilized for “gender oregon spiritual motives” successful astir nationalist spaces that was projected by the far-right Chega enactment and targets burqas and niqabs worn by Muslim women.

Under the bill, approved by parliament connected Friday, projected fines for wearing look veils successful nationalist would scope from 200 to 4,000 euros ($234-$4,670). Forcing idiosyncratic to deterioration 1 would beryllium punishable with situation presumption of up to 3 years.

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Face veils would inactive beryllium allowed successful aeroplanes, diplomatic premises and places of worship.

According to section media reports, the measure is present acceptable to beryllium discussed successful the parliamentary committee connected Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms, and Guarantees – a assemblage liable for reviewing authorities related to law matters.

If signed into law, it would enactment Portugal alongside European countries, including France, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands, which already person afloat oregon partial bans.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa could inactive veto the measure oregon nonstop it to the Constitutional Court for checks.

During Friday’s parliamentary session, Chega person Andre Ventura was confronted by respective pistillate lawmakers from left-wing parties who opposed the bill, but it passed with enactment from the centre-right coalition.

“We are contiguous protecting pistillate members of parliament, your daughters, our daughters, from having to usage burqas successful this state 1 day,” Ventura said.

In a station connected X, helium wrote: “Today is simply a historical time for our ideology and for the safeguarding of our values, our individuality and women’s rights.”

Andreia Neto, a lawmaker from the ruling Social Democratic Party, said earlier the vote: “This is simply a statement connected equality betwixt men and women. No pistillate should beryllium forced to veil her face.”

Two retired of the 10 parties successful parliament abstained from the ballot – the People-Animals-Nature party, and the Together for the People party, according to section media reports.

The parties person suggested that the connection incited discrimination.

Only a tiny number of Muslim women successful Europe screen their faces, and successful Portugal specified veils are precise rare.

But full-face coverings specified arsenic niqabs and burqas person go a polarising contented crossed Europe, with immoderate arguing that they symbolise sex favoritism oregon tin correspond a information menace and should beryllium outlawed.