Portuguese parliament approves bill banning face coverings in public

The bill stipulates fines for those wearing face veils in public (Armando Franca/AP)

Portugal’s parliament has approved a bill banning face veils worn for “gender or religious” reasons in public, in a move seen as largely targeting the face coverings worn by some Muslim women.

The measure was proposed by the far-right Chega party and would prohibit coverings such as burqas and niqabs, the full-face Islamic veil, from being worn in most public places. Face veils would still be allowed in airplanes, diplomatic premises and places of worship.