“Lawmakers approving such legislations have no regard for women’s freedom. Banning clothes, veils, or burqas is merely a means to an end,” stated the labor union confederation in a statement released today.
“Immediately, it serves to distract attention from what is essential and in plain sight for all of us, provided we are not blindfolded,” added the CGTP.
On Friday, PSD, IL, and CDS-PP approved, in general terms, Chega’s bill to ban the use of burqas in public spaces, citing women’s rights and security concerns.
CGTP-IN emphasized that “equality is not imposed by removing freedom” and security “is not built by singling out a specific culture”.
Similarly, it warned that the law prohibiting clothing that conceals or hinders face display in public spaces “is vague” and there is a “risk of abuse”.
Simultaneously, the trade union center accused “the voices now claiming to ‘protect women'” of being “the same ones attacking equality policies at work and in life”.
“They condone pay inequality, aim to abolish maternity rights, remain silent while women give birth on highways, promote workplace harassment, cut support for domestic violence, dismantle public services, and endorse the current labor package, which is a true civilizational regression,” stated the CGTP.
In the union confederation’s view, this law also has a purpose of “distracting attention from what is essential”.
While IL and CDS-PP declared support for Chega’s proposal that “prohibits face concealment in public spaces, except for certain exceptions,” PSD expressed “willingness to take this path,” but argued that “the presented text can and should be improved during the specialty stage”.
Meanwhile, PS argued for caution in drafting laws, especially when the far-right seeks to “direct hatred” against a “specific target,” namely the Muslim community. PCP and BE opposed the proposal, while Livre accused Chega of intentionally presenting a “poorly made” project, thus not prioritizing this debate.
With this initiative, Chega proposes that the “use of clothing intended to conceal or obstruct face display in public spaces” be prohibited, with some exceptions. Chega’s leader stated the aim is to prohibit women from wearing burqas in Portugal, addressing immigrants in particular.
On Saturday, Amnesty International condemned the approval of Chega’s bill by the Portuguese parliament, considering it discriminatory and violating women’s rights.
