A demonstration under the slogan “Don’t Throw Burkas Over Our Eyes” was organized by historian Raquel Varela on social media following the approval of the Chega party’s bill proposing to ban the wearing of burkas in public spaces.
Amid changing weather typical of autumn, protesters silently displayed signs with messages such as “Burka is not a crime, We are not criminals” and “Houses belong to the people, the people occupy the houses.”
Besides Lisbon, gatherings are also planned in Porto (Avenida dos Aliados) and Braga (Avenida Central).
The call to action encourages collective mobilization for a free, equal, and inclusive society.
“We want housing, secure employment, time to live and love, quality food. Violence is giving birth on the roadside and hearing threats from the far-right. We are not afraid,” the message reads.
Among the demands are the right to dignified housing, reduced income taxes for workers, the end of non-essential night work, strengthening public services, and defending the right to strike.
The protest also denounces sexual and political violence, especially those promoted by ‘bots’ associated with Chega, and critiques media that reproduce the far-right agenda.
The protest’s slogan, “Don’t Throw Burkas Over Our Eyes,” emerged days after the parliament approved, in general terms, Chega’s law banning face-covering garments in public spaces, supported by PSD, IL, and CDS-PP. The left criticizes the measure as stigmatizing the Muslim community.
