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Kuwait’s embassy in Lisbon issued a statement on September 19 cautioning citizens about Portugal’s impending prohibition on clothing that conceals the face in public areas. The embassy said the law enters into force on September 23 and carries fines ranging from 400 to 3,000 euros for violations. It applies to streets, public places, buildings offering public services, sporting events, activities and demonstrations, according to the Kuwait Times. The embassy urged Kuwaitis to respect Portuguese laws and to verify local regulations before travel to avoid penalties.
The legislation also criminalizes forcing any person to cover their face through threats, violence, coercion or abuse of authority. Such offenses carry penalties of up to two years in prison, a fine or both, with stricter sanctions if the victim is a minor, the embassy stated in its advisory. Kuwaiti nationals should contact the embassy’s emergency line at 00351916666645 or the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Communication Center at 00965159 for assistance, the statement added.
Portugal’s National Assembly approved the measure on July 17 and it was published in the Official Gazette on August 24, setting the 30-day countdown to enforcement, Times Kuwait reported. A verification article by SIC Notícias noted that the country is one of the last in Europe to adopt such a restriction, joining more than 20 others with comparable rules. The law includes exemptions for health reasons, professional needs, artistic performances, weather conditions, aircraft, diplomatic sites and places of worship.
Amnesty International described the legislation as discriminatory and a violation of freedom of belief that effectively targets Muslim women who wear the niqab or burqa, according to an Al Jazeera account of the group’s position in July. The organization had urged Portugal’s president not to promulgate the bill and to refer it for constitutional review. President António José Seguro signed it into law after weighing its social and cultural sensitivities, a Portuguese government statement indicated.
The Saudi embassy in Lisbon issued a similar warning to its citizens on September 18, highlighting fines from 150 to 750 euros for negligent violations and 400 to 3,000 euros for intentional ones, RT Arabic reported. It also detailed penalties for coercion, including up to two years imprisonment or community service. Both Gulf embassies emphasized the need for compliance during visits to Portugal after the law’s activation.
The Kuwait embassy affirmed its readiness to provide guidance and support to citizens in line with applicable procedures, according to its statement carried by the Kuwait Times. The advisory reflects broader efforts by diplomatic missions to inform travelers of regulatory changes in European destinations. Kuwaitis planning trips should familiarize themselves with the full scope of the restrictions before departure.
