In a significant legislative move, Portugal’s parliament has passed a bill prohibiting the wearing of face veils for ‘gender or religious’ reasons in most public spaces. The bill, primarily targeting Islamic face coverings such as burqas and niqabs, was introduced by the far-right Chega party and received backing from center-right political groups. While the ban excludes specific locations like airplanes, diplomatic premises, and places of worship, violators could face fines ranging from 200 euros to 4,000 euros ($234 to $4,669). The legislation now awaits approval from President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who may either sign it into law, veto it, or refer it to the Constitutional Court for further review. If enacted, Portugal would join several European nations, including Austria, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, which have implemented full or partial bans on face and head coverings. Although the number of women in Portugal wearing such garments is relatively small, the issue has sparked debates similar to those in other European countries. Chega has justified the ban by arguing that face coverings perpetuate ‘exclusion and inferiority,’ particularly for women, and contradict principles of ‘liberty, equality, and human dignity.’