India, July 20 -- The Portuguese Parliament approved a law on July 17, 2026, to implement a blanket ban on face coverings in public despite warnings that the move threatens human rights. Passed with a two-thirds majority, the bill originated from a 2025 proposal by the far-right Chega party citing security and women's rights.
Religious Freedoms and Discrimination
Joao Godinho Martins, Executive Director of Amnesty International Portugal, labeled the law discriminatory and a threat to fundamental liberties. Although direct references to Islam were removed from earlier drafts, the organization maintains the law violates the rights of Muslim women to express their cultural identity. Martins stated that no authority should dictate personal att...