Portuguese Scholar Calls Burqa Ban a ‘Tool Against Muslims’

Portuguese Scholar Calls Burqa Ban a ‘Tool Against Muslims’
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The Portuguese Parliament has approved a law, proposed by the far-right party Chega, that bans the wearing of the burqa in public places.

As reported by the Shia Waves Agency, citing the BBC, the law was justified under the pretext of supporting women and ensuring security. However, religious studies scholar Paulo Mendes Pinto has criticized the ban, calling it a tool for “labeling and spreading Islamophobia” against Muslims.

Pinto stressed that the number of women who wear the burqa is extremely small and argued that covering the face is often more of a cultural custom than a religious requirement. He added that passing such laws creates a feeling of discrimination and restriction in the daily lives of Muslim women, exposing them to unfair judgment.

The scholar contends that the legislative approach should focus on education and dialogue about cultural diversity, rather than limiting the religious freedoms of minorities. Experts believe that by adopting discriminatory policies, Portuguese society is inadvertently creating an environment for social tensions and hate speech against Muslims.