Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

25 August 2026

3-minute read

In a move that has sparked debate over religious freedom, equality and the right of choice of Muslim women, Portugal has introduced a ban on face coverings in public spaces.

Sheikh Imam David Munir, a senior representative of the Islamic community of Lisbon and Imam at the Central Masjid in Lisbon, mentioned that because of the increase in right wing leaders in Portugal over the past 5 to 7 years, laws related to immigrants have also increased. Immigration laws have changed and the two main things on the government’s agenda are “anti-migration and Islamophobia” he stated.

For a time, immigration within the country was not controlled. But making the lives of immigrants difficult is detrimental to the country. “Portugal needs immigrants” because there are certain types of work that the Portuguese people refuse to do, the Sheikh stated.

In Portugal, a person owning private land and wanting to put up a mosque on it would require the permission of the municipality. However, if the person makes it clear that he is building a masjid, the authorities “will not say yes and they will not say no,” Sheikh Munir pointed out. However, if the person seeks permission to build a “cultural centre” without specifying it as a masjid, he will receive permission for it.

The law regarding the ban on face coverings will be obliged from 23^rd September. The Sheikh said that while they understand that covering the face in public spaces may be deemed a security threat, he cannot fathom why the government is calling it the “law of the burqa.” He further stated that the “burqa issue” is a controversial one in the Islamic world and is an attack on a specific people or religious group.

Approximately 11 million Muslims reside in Portugal, and from among them, perhaps one hundred thousand don the niqab. While the law allows for hijab, the new law specifies that women in niqab may wear a mask if they can prove that they are sick, for example, but they will no longer be allowed to wear a niqab. Sheikh Munir mentioned that when Portugal is facing many other issues like health, housing, educational and justice problems, it makes no sense to make a law for a minority and debate the issue of niqab in parliament.

Government’s stance is that women who wear niqab do so because they are considered to be inferior and are subjugated to their husbands. They have implied that if these women do not feel comfortable, they must leave the country and reside elsewhere.

Imam Munir said that he often engages with visitors to the Central Mosque in Lisbon, gives them da’wah, clarifies the position of women in Islam and explains the issue of the niqab.

Listen to the full interview with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and Sheikh David Munir here.