Portugal has officially banned the wearing of the Muslim veil in public spaces.

The Parliament of Portugal voted in July on a law that prohibits the wearing of the Muslim veil in public, a legislative act now promulgated by President Antonio José Seguro. The law was supported by the right-wing and far-right governing coalition, while left-wing parties voted against it.

This regulation prohibits clothing that conceals the face or hinders the identification of a person in public spaces and penalizes the coercion to wear such garments for reasons of gender, religion, age, or origin. Those who violate the law risk fines between 150 and 3,000 euros, but there are exceptions for health, professional, artistic, or environmental reasons, as well as in places of worship and airplanes.