Burkas and niqabs are set to be banned in most public areas in Portugal after MPs voted for a proposal to outlaw face veils launched by a far-right political social gathering.
The measure applies when such veils are used for “gender or religious motives” and carries fines for offenders of between 200 euros and 4,000 euros (£174-£3,473).
Anybody forcing another person to put on one might be jailed for as much as three years.
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If it turns into legislation, it might mirror the total or partial bans launched by different European international locations, together with France, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa may veto the invoice or ship it to the Constitutional Court docket for checks.
Andre Ventura, chief of the far-right Chega social gathering, advised MPs throughout Friday’s debate they had been “protecting female members of parliament, your daughters, our daughters, from having to use burqas in this country one day”.
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A number of girls MPs from left-wing events who opposed the invoice, confronted Mr Ventura within the Meeting of the Republic chamber, however the measure handed with help from the centre-right coalition.
Andreia Neto, from the ruling Social Democratic Get together, stated earlier than the vote: “This is a debate on equality between men and women. No woman should be forced to veil her face.”
Solely a small minority of Muslim girls in Europe cowl their faces, and in Portugal, such veils are very uncommon.
However full-face coverings resembling niqabs and burqas have turn out to be a controversial matter throughout the continent, with some arguing that they symbolise gender discrimination or can characterize a safety menace and needs to be outlawed.
