What is Portugal’s new ‘burqa law' banning face coverings?

Violations of the new law will incur hefty fines and up to three years in jail, with rights groups raising major concerns over the targeting of Muslim women

Portuguese President António José Seguro enacted a law banning public face coverings, with violators facing fines of up to $3,500.

Portuguese President António José Seguro has enacted a measure that bans people from covering up their face while in public places, with some exceptions, AFP reported.

Portugal has enacted a law banning face coverings in public spaces, a measure that has been widely criticised as targeting Muslim women who wear full-face veils.

The centre-right government of Portugal has enacted legislation put forward by the populist Chega party to ban full-face covering veils in public in a bid to ensure that all women are afforded the rights of a modern Western society.

In Portugal, violators face fines ranging from €150 to €3,000, with exemptions for health, professional, artistic or weather-related reasons, as well as in places of worship, diplomatic missions and on aircraft.