"Face Hiding" Law in Public Space is in Force

The regulation known as the "burqa law", which has been talked about and discussed for a long time in Portugal, has now become official. President António José Seguro put the law into effect by issuing the decree passed by the Assembly of the Republic.

The subject, by its nature, has a knife-edge sensitivity, both socially and culturally. The President's reservations on this issue are clearly felt in his statements; He underlines that it is not easy to determine borders and establish the balance between rights, freedoms and security. However, after the legal changes made, it was deemed appropriate for the decree to come into force.

So, What Exactly Does the Law Bring?

In the final vote held in July; The prominent articles of the text adopted with the support of PSD, Chega, Liberal Initiative and CDS are as follows:

General Ban: It is now prohibited to wear clothing that prevents facial recognition in public spaces.

Prohibition of Coercion: It is absolutely unacceptable for any individual to be forced to hide his or her face, regardless of gender, religion, age or origin.

Exceptions: Certain areas are excluded from this ban, such as health problems, professional requirements (such as the use of masks), artistic or advertising needs, places of worship and diplomatic buildings. In addition, weather conditions or security-requiring situations are also protected.

What Happens If It Is Violated?

There is a financial penalty for violating the ban. Administrative fines ranging from 150 to 750 euros will be applied in cases of "neglect" and 400 to 3,000 euros in cases of "intentional". Although higher penalties were initially proposed, these figures were agreed upon in the final text.

"Face is the Center of Identity"

The main point that President Seguro emphasized when making this decision is social trust. According to the Belém Palace, which also references the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, the face is at the center of human identity and communication.

In summary; It is argued that an open face is an element that reinforces mutual trust in society. It is believed that this "common rule" is indispensable for a free and pluralistic social structure where individuals with equal dignity live together and know each other.

Let's see how this practice will be reflected in the culture of "living together" in our daily lives.

Source: RTP / Lusa

Photo: José Coelho - Lusa