Portugal has approved a bill to ban naqab used for “gender or religious motives” in most public spaces.
Whoever will now wear naqab, will be fined from 200 to 4,000 euros ($234 to $4,670).
Forcing someone to wear one would result in prison sentences of up to three years.
It is pertinent to mention that face veils would still be permitted on airplanes, diplomatic facilities, and places of worship.
The bill will now be discussed by the parliamentary committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms, and Guarantees.
If this bill becomes a law, Portugal would join European countries such as France, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands that already have full or partial bans.
According to reports, Chega leader André Ventura said that “whoever arrives in Portugal, wherever they come from, whatever region they come from, with whatever customs and religion they have, must comply with, respect and ensure that the customs and values of this country are respected”, thus justifying the presentation of the bill.
MP Pedro Delgado Alves accused the “extreme right” of fuelling “direct hatred towards these communities”, which he considered also “have the right to be respected”.
