Those who breach the law face fines ranging from $175 to $3,500.
In Portugal, President António José Seguro has enacted a law that bans face coverings in public spaces.
The legislation is seen as targeting Muslim women who wear burqas and niqabs.
There are exemptions for health, professional, artistic, or weather-related reasons.
Face coverings are also permitted in places of worship, diplomatic missions, and on aircraft.
🇵🇹 Portugal has banned face coverings in public under a new law widely dubbed the “burqa ban”.
Those who conceal their faces or force others to do so for religious or gender-related reasons face fines of between €150 and €3,000.
President António José Seguro declared that… pic.twitter.com/gIYxrKlJcP
— Europa.com (@europa) August 19, 2026
Euronews reported:
“’The face must be considered a central element of human identity and communication’, Seguro said in a statement late Tuesday.
The legislation, dubbed the ‘burqa law’ by local media, was approved by parliament in July with the support of the governing right-wing coalition and far-right parties. Left-wing parties voted against it.”
Portugal BANS full-face veils in public under ‘burka law’https://t.co/v32Ch47Kvn
— GB News (@GBNEWS) August 20, 2026
The legislation tackles clothing that conceals the face or prevents identification in public spaces.
It bans forcing someone to cover their face for reasons of gender, religion, age, or origin.
“Seguro acknowledged that the issue was one of ‘great social and cultural sensitivity’.
The bill put forward by the far-right Chega party received negative opinions from the Portuguese Bar Association, the High Council of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Portuguese Association of Women Lawyers, alongside concerns over its potential unconstitutionality.”
Portugal officially bans the burqa.
Based Portuguese politician:
“If you want to wear a burka, go back to your country. You do not belong here. The airport is near by, take a flight back to Pakistan.” pic.twitter.com/aZJEGvFfGh
— Casey Krol (@CaseyKrol) August 19, 2026
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