On Friday, the Portuguese Parliament approved in a preliminary vote a draft law submitted by the far right to ban “covering the face in public places,” effectively targeting the wearing of the niqab.
This law was proposed by the far-right Shiga Party, which became the second political force in Portugal in the legislative elections that took place last May.
The law received sixty votes from the Shiga Party, in addition to the votes of the government coalition (centre-right) and liberal parties.
Left parties and communists voted against the law.
According to Muslim officials in Portugal, the niqab is not widespread among Muslim women in Portugal, but it is a “tradition” that some of them adhere to.
