Overview
- Lawmakers approved the ban on October 17 in the unicameral assembly after a proposal from the far‑right Chega party aimed at prohibiting the burqa and niqab.
- The bill passed with support from the center‑right Social Democratic Party and the centrist Liberal Initiative, while left‑of‑center deputies opposed it.
- The restriction applies to most public spaces, with explicit exceptions for airplanes and places of worship.
- Penalties include fines ranging from €200 to €4,000 and prison terms of up to three years for coercing someone to fully cover their face.
- Chega cited a Dutch law as a model, and reporting notes that limited enforcement there points to likely debates over practicality and rights in Portugal.