When Sofia Oliveira stopped at her local market to buy flowers for her grandmother, she did not expect a routine errand to leave her feeling threatened.
Accompanied by her husband and father-in-law, the Portuguese Muslim woman was confronted by a couple who pointed at her niqab, a face veil that leaves only the eyes visible, and verbally harassed her. Passers-by stared as the encounter escalated, leaving Oliveira anxious and shaken.
The incident took place before Portugal’s new law restricting face coverings came into effect in September, yet she says it reflects the hostility Muslim women already face, and the consequences of legislation presented as a means of protecting their freedom.
"Everyone was staring at me... I was called names that I won’t repeat here, and they even tried to harass us physically," Oliveira, a Muslim Portuguese woman from northern Portugal, told Middle East Eye.
"This bill was introduced to demonise and dehumanise a small portion of the population."
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Oliveira challenged the perception that Muslim women do not have freedom of choice and may be pressured into wearing modest Islamic clothing.
"Many of those behind this law supposedly seek to 'free us' as women. Well, this is not what happens in practice, because we are constantly harassed. If they really think we need this freedom, and for it we need to get rid of these clothes, why are we still harassed in public?" she said.
Oliveira is one of the many impacted by the new bill and has expressed deep concern about the meaning of fundamental rights within Portugal.
'Legislation such as the so-called ‘Burqa Law’ ... are part of a perspective where people like me are seen as dogmatised figures'
- Sofia Oliveira, Muslim convert
She converted to Islam two years ago. It was a thoughtful process, she said, which began when she read the Quran out of curiosity and was positively surprised to find that the religion’s core principles differed from the stereotypes attributed to the Muslim community.
For Sofia, wearing the Niqab represents her freedom to fight what society's "constant sexualisation of women" by choosing "who can or cannot see our bodies".
Raised in a Christian family, Oliveira initially struggled to gain her relatives’ acceptance of her decision to convert. Over time, however, they came to see her choice as an expression of her own autonomy.
"In the beginning, it was quite frightening because they rely, as I once did, on a great deal of misinformation, which is very common in Portugal. Obviously, my family did not react well at first," she said.
"But I can say that nowadays they react much better... However, some things are still seen as taboo. Pieces of legislation such as the so-called ‘Burqa Law’ only make the subject harder to approach and are part of a perspective where people like me are seen as dogmatised figures."
'Designed to prevent women from wearing burqas'
The bill was proposed by Chega, a far-right party led by Andre Ventura and known for its anti-immigration policies. With 60 of the 230 seats in parliament, it is the second-largest political force in Portugal.
First introduced in June 2025, the bill was approved in principle a few months later, with 160 deputies voting in favour, 68 against and two abstaining.
The bill seeks to "forbid covering or imposing obstacles on the exhibition of one's face", with exceptions for health-related reasons, professional duties and diplomatic functions.
During the parliamentary debate on 17 October, Chega defended the proposal on the grounds of women's freedom, integration, security and social values. Although the law does not explicitly target women who wear the niqab or burqa, Ventura described it as "designed to prevent women from wearing burqas around Portugal".
As of 23 September, wearing a burqa or niqab carries a fine of between €150 and €750, rising to between €400 and €3,000 for repeat offences.
For Oliveira, the bill infringes the Portuguese Constitution, which explicitly protects freedom of religious practice and prohibits persecution on religious grounds under Article 41.
"Therefore it's a right for anyone who resides in Portugal," Oliveira said. "This is something this law is supposed to support: persecution. Ironically not by agents of force, but to set a precedent for ordinary people to carry out such hateful harassment."
Islamophobia on the rise
Portugal is among 11 European countries that ban Islamic veils, either fully or partially. Last month, Rome approved far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s proposal to ban Islamic veils in schools, from primary to secondary level.
Across Europe, efforts to restrict Muslim religious freedom through legislation are linked to far-right agendas that prioritise policies that seek to exclude anyone or anything perceived as linked to immigration.
'No one should dictate what a woman may or may not wear, and no woman should be penalised for practising her faith... or beliefs'
- Amnesty International
Norway is currently the only country in Europe with a national strategy against Islamophobia, while most EU member states do not explicitly address anti-Muslim racism in their national strategies to combat racism.
In 2024, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) published Being Muslim in the EU – Experiences of Muslims, a report examining the worsening experiences of Muslims across the EU.
According to the report, almost half of respondents (47 percent) had experienced racial discrimination in the five years preceding the survey. Discrimination was most common in the workplace and housing market. Nearly two in five Muslims (39 perent) reported racial discrimination when looking for work, up from 31 percent in 2016, the FRA said.
Muslim women file a petition
Determined to defend the rights of Portuguese citizens, Oliveira went beyond simply accepting the legislation. She helped draft a public petition that can be signed online before being submitted to parliament for consideration.
Oliveira said the petition had gathered around 1,400 signatures so far, short of the 7,500 needed to bring a case before parliament.
"The law is overall discriminatory against Muslim women, even by its title, people still call it 'the Burqa Law'," she added.
In July, Amnesty International released a statement condemning the legislation and describing it as "a threat to human rights".
"This new law clearly violates the human rights of Muslim women who choose to cover their faces. It is a direct threat to their freedom of expression and freedom of religion," the rights group said.
"No one should dictate what a woman may or may not wear, and no woman should be penalised for practising her faith, cultural identity or beliefs."
Leonor Costa, an advocacy coordinator at Amnesty International in Portugal, told MEE: "Despite Amnesty International’s work in two different fronts: campaigns and investigations, our awareness campaigns have limited visibility when compared to parties like Chega.
"The fact that such a bill is approved with so little popular noise, unfortunately shows which path Portugal chooses to take from now on, a path where discriminatory and fascist speeches against religious, and ethnic, minorities hide behind security reasons."
Adapt or leave
Oliveira said she lacked support from the very source she needed it most: her own Muslim community.
"I understand they [the Central Mosque of Lisbon] are in a complicated position, but no, we don’t have their support. They believe we represent a very small minority of those who wear burqas and niqabs," she said.
'When the laws of the country do not give me security or freedom... we all flee from dictatorship'
- David Munir, head of Central Mosque of Lisbon
"Even non-Muslims went to the Central Mosque of Lisbon to express their concerns when the bill was announced. Their response was: 'Don’t worry, they’ll adapt. Or else, leave Portugal.'"
Oliveira challenged the suggestion that Muslim women should leave Portugal if they can't adapt to the law.
"This is their country, they grew up here and are native to Portugal. We should not have to leave. So no, unfortunately, we have not been supported by the Central Mosque of Lisbon," she said.
Speaking to MEE, the head of the Central Mosque, Sheikh David Munir, said the burqa and niqab are not mandatory in Islam and should not be treated as such. However, he acknowledged that it will be difficult for women who have worn the niqab their entire lives to go out in public without it.
He insisted, however, that while the face covering law had left some Muslim women feeling insecure, the Portuguese constitution still protects freedom of religion.
"Now, what I do not agree with is making something mandatory when it is not... You can give any number of reasons, and they may violate the right to religious freedom, but you cannot say that [the law] 'violates my religious rights'," he said.
"Each person then adapts according to what is important to them, without disrespecting the law or transgressing the faith they practise."
Munir also points to the major integration challenges faced by people who seek Portugal and other countries after fleeing wars in the Middle East, often triggered by western intervention.
"Many left stable lives behind and are now starting over from scratch, which makes adaptation very difficult. Immigrants who choose to come, on the other hand, are in a different situation, although they too need to integrate. Learning the language and understanding the culture are essential to facilitating this process," he said.
Asked whether the new law could pave the way for further legislation justified on the grounds that Portugal is a Christian country, Munir acknowledged that such fears existed.
"Portugal is a Christian country in name. Our constitution gives us that openness. Now, if we are going to change the constitution so that we must all have [the Christian] faith then... we'd be going backwards," he said.
"Of course, people here will then decide whether to stay or leave. When the laws of the country do not give me security or freedom... we all flee from dictatorship."
Without support from the wider Muslim community, Oliveira feels fortunate to have the backing of family, friends and her husband – a support network that is not available to all women.
"There are many Muslim women in Portugal who have no one… They are completely vulnerable to any kind of attack. And for what? For wearing a piece of cloth, and that’s it?" Oliveira said.
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