“Portugal Outlaws Burqa in Public, Threatens ₹4 Lakh Penalty for Defiance”, For Pol India, October 19, 2025
“Portugal, a country rarely known for cultural confrontation, has stepped squarely into one. With its Parliament approving a ban on full-face coverings such as the burqa and niqab in public spaces, the nation has ignited a fierce debate, one that stretches far beyond dress codes into questions of freedom, equality and what it means to share a civic space.
Supporters say this is not a strike against religion, but a stand for public transparency and women’s rights. Critics claim it risks stigmatising a minority. What cannot be denied is this: Portugal has forced Europe to look again at a question many hoped was already settled.
The Heart of the Law: Visibility as Civic Duty
The bill doesn’t target faith, it targets concealment. Lawmakers insist: to exist in public is to be identifiable. From metro stations to courthouses, a visible face is viewed as a basic condition of trust, accountability and democratic participation. “Democracy is built on recognition,” one MP declared. “If we cannot see each other, how can we stand together…….”
Read full article at forpolindia.com
