Europe’s New Burqa Ban: Déjà Vu in the Courtroom of Neutrality
On 17 October 2025, the Portuguese parliament approved a bill from the far-right Chega party banning face coverings for “gender or religious motives” in public spaces, pending presidential approval. The law aims to prohibit the niqāb and burqa, imposing fines and prison sentences for enforcement against wearers. This legislation, while symbolic due to the small number of veiled women in Portugal. The ban intertwines themes of migration, gender, and Islam, with far-right narratives framing migrant men as threats while depicting Muslim women as victims in need of protection. Portugal’s law exemplifies a traditionalist vision of Europe that prioritizes visibility, criminalizing concealment and marginalizing Muslim women despite the legal rights afforded by Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This highlights intersectionality issues often neglected in EU discourses on religious expression.
