The Head of State gave reasons for the legislation, stating that the face should be kept as a key part of human identity and communication, while also recognising how sensitive the matter is from a social and cultural point of view.

The law, which was approved by Parliament in July with the backing of the centre-right governing coalition and the far right, bans clothing designed to hide the face or prevent people from being identified in public. It also makes it illegal to force anyone to cover their face for reasons connected with gender, religion, age or origin.

People who violate the law are liable to be fined between 150 and 3,000 euros; there are, however, exceptions in cases involving health, professional requirements, artistic performances and weather conditions, as well as in places of worship, diplomatic missions and on aircraft.

The legislative proposal originated with the Chega party and received negative reactions from organisations including the Bar Association, the Superior Council of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the Portuguese Association of Women Jurists, all of which expressed concerns about its possible unconstitutionality.

The left-wing opposition, made up of the Socialist Party, Livre, and the PCP, voted against the measure, charging its supporters with spreading hate speech and promoting Islamophobia in the name of security concerns or women’s rights. The progressive groups criticised the measure for creating a climate of moral panic and warned about the risks it posed to the unity of the communities directly concerned.