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António José Seguro enacts new 'burqa law' in Portugal to improve social trust and gender parity.

Portuguese President António José Seguro has enacted a new measure that largely prohibits individuals from covering their faces in public spaces. The law, often referred to as the 'burqa law,' targets clothing that hides a person's face due to religion, gender, or age. The administration announced that the uncovered face is a structuring dimension of social trust and a characteristic of Portuguese society. President António José Seguro noted that the law aims to provide social integration and security while ensuring non-discrimination based on gender. He emphasized that requiring only women to hide their faces creates an asymmetry incompatible with the values of parity and equality. While the law includes carve-outs for health, professional, artistic, and weather-related reasons, violators may face fines ranging from 150 to 3,000 euros. The measure aligns Portugal with other European nations, such as France and Belgium, which have implemented similar restrictions to facilitate communication and public identification.

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