Amnesty International – Portugal condemned the approval, in general, of the bill presented by Chega which prohibits the hiding of one’s face in public spaces. The organization considers the proposal “discriminatory” and warns that its implementation violates fundamental rights, in particular those of women who choose to wear veils such as the burka or niqab for religious or cultural reasons..
In the statement released after the vote, Amnesty states that “no political decision-maker should dictate what a woman can or cannot wear” and that “no woman should be punished for exercising her faith, cultural identity or beliefs”. For the organization, the ban represents undue interference with freedom of expression and religion, values protected by Portuguese legislation and international human rights conventions.
The bill was approved last Friday, October 17th, with the favorable votes of Chega, PSD, CDS-PP and Liberal Initiative. The text justifies the ban with the need to guarantee “the protection and safety of citizens” and “the dignity and respect for women”.
Amnesty International disagrees with the framing of the proposal, arguing that a measure of this type “far from defending women’s rights, it would violate the rights of those who choose to wear veils that cover their entire face, while at the same time it would do little to protect those who do so against their will”.
The organization also emphasizes that legitimate security concerns can be addressed by “specific restrictions” in defined contexts, such as in high-risk locations or in situations where it is necessary to confirm a person’s identity. “These exceptions are already provided for in Portuguese law”, recalls the statement.
For Amnesty, the new ban “puts Portugal at risk of violating its international human rights obligations” and “serves above all to fuel the polarization of society”.