Portugal’s Face Covering Ban Draws Human Rights Criticism

Author: Faryal Fatima

July 24, 2026

HRRC expresses concern that Portugal’s sweeping ban on face coverings may disproportionately affect Muslim women and restrict the rights to freedom of religion, expression, and personal autonomy. We encourage Portuguese authorities to ensure that any employed security measures are necessary, appropriate and in line with the country's constitutional and international human rights commitments.

[Image credit: Amnesty International]

The Portuguese Parliament passed a bill banning face veils on July 17, 2026, with a two-thirds majority. 

In October 2025, Parliament approved a first draft of a bill by the far-right Chega party that would outlaw the wearing of burqas and other veils that covered the face in public space, arguing that it would protect women's rights and security. 

The original draft specifically referred to Islamic clothing like the burqa and niqab. This was later modified in order to prevent total failure, but taking into account already existing constitutional safeguards, such as the freedom of religion guaranteed by Article 41 of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic.

Furthermore, Portuguese law already provides for specific restrictions on the wearing of veils that fully cover the face in clearly defined high-risk locations, such as border controls. Sometimes people may be required to show their faces when it is objectively needed, such as in verification of identity.

The Executive Director of Amnesty International , Portugal, João Godinho Martins, commented on the Portuguese Parliament’s adoption of a legislation prohibiting the use of face coverings in public places: “This new law is discriminatory and is a threat to human rights. Despite having removed direct references to Islam, which were a part of previous versions of the text, this new law clearly violates the human rights of Muslim women who choose to cover their faces.”

“Women who choose to wear full-face veils may face greater exclusion from public life, social isolation or increased difficulties in accessing education, employment and public services,” he added.

Amnesty International further emphasised that current security protocols already permit police to ask to remove face coverings when needed for identification. They are also concerned that the wider ban would pose a threat to minority groups and may impact freedom of expression and assembly.

If adopted, Portugal would follow in the footsteps of several European countries, such as France, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Bulgaria and Switzerland, that have enacted laws to limit the use of face coverings in public places.

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Glossary

• Autonomy: The right of an organisation, country or region to be independent and govern itself. 

• Burqa: A loose enveloping garment that covers the face and body and is worn in public by certain Muslim women.

• Cultural identity: The fact of belonging to, or feeling that you belong to, a particular culture. 

• Disproportionately: In a way that is too large or too small in relation to something else.

• Far right: The group of people whose political views are the most conservative.

• Freedom of religion: The right to choose which religion to follow and to worship without interference.

• Human rights: Rights that belong to an individual or group of individuals simply for being human.

• Legislation: A law or set of laws suggested by a government and made official by a parliament.

• Niqab: A long garment worn by some Muslim women, in order to cover their entire body and face, excluding their eyes.

• Penalized: To cause someone a disadvantage or to punish someone for breaking a rule.

• Social isolation: A state of complete or near complete lack of contact between an individual and society.