Samuel Short writes for the Gateway Pundit about an interesting development in western Europe.
The Portuguese are realizing that Islam has no place in Europe, much to the chagrin of some vocal residents.
President António José Seguro signed a bill into law banning face coverings in public, dubbed the “burka law.” U.K.-based outlet GB News says the policy was adopted in Lisbon in July with a right-wing coalition in the government favoring it.
Under the new law, wearing clothing meant to hide or obstruct one’s face in public is punishable by fines ranging from 150 Euros up to 3,000 Euros. Forcing someone to cover their face could carry a prison sentence of up to three years.
Exceptions exist for professional, health, artistic, advertising, or entertainment reasons.
The ban also does not apply to aircraft, diplomatic, or consular visits — meaning Islamic countries with officials visiting Portugal will not have to comply — and it does not extend to places of worship, such as mosques, or holy sites.
Executive Director of Amnesty International in Portugal, João Godinho Martins, criticized the law as “a threat to human rights.
“Despite having removed direct references to Islam, which were a part of previous versions of the text, 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.
“No one should dictate what a woman may or may not wear, and no woman should be penalized for practising her faith, cultural identity or beliefs.
“Far from promoting women’s rights as claimed, this blanket ban is likely to have the opposite effect. Women who choose to wear full-face veils may face greater exclusion from public life, social isolation or increased difficulties in accessing education, employment and public services.”
Those comments certainly create a strange amalgamation — Islam and women’s rights.
