The ban on the use of burqas in public spaces may violate the Portuguese Constitution, but the President of the Republic says he will only form an opinion when he knows the final version of the bill, which will still be voted on in the specialty.
Speaking to SIC, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa explains that he prefers not to comment for now on the constitutionality of the bill proposed by Chega and generally approved with votes in favor from the PSD, Liberal Initiative and CDS, votes against from the PS, Livre, PCP and Bloco de Esquerda and abstention from the PAN and JPP.
“I’ll have to wait and see. I didn’t want to form an opinion on this matter because I wanted to see the final version. I always want to see the final version of the Assembly’s laws.”
This is after classifying the law as “a clash of values”, in a country that now has a “more restrictive” political majority for immigration.
The Bar Association and the Superior Council of the Public Ministry warn of the possible violation of the constitutional principle of freedom, conscience and religion and remind that “there is no factual data or logical basis that justifies limiting fundamental rights”.
Amnesty International is clear: the ban on face coverings is discriminatory and violates women’s rights to dress as they wish.
Chega’s bill establishes a ban on any form of clothing that prevents facial identification in public places. Of the four forms of Islamic dress for women, there are two in which the face is covered.
It is not clear whether the ban also applies to the use of clothing that covers faces, for example, in football cheering squads or at demonstrations.
The document provides for exceptions: health, professional, artistic and entertainment reasons. It also allows use in places of worship, embassies and consulates, airplanes and weather conditions.
The fifth article provides for fines of between 200 and 2,000 euros in the case of negligent use and between 400 and 4,000 euros if there is intent.