Portugal's Law 58/2026, which prohibits the wearing of face-covering garments in public spaces, came into force on Wednesday, marking a significant shift in the country's approach to immigration and religious expression. The legislation — dubbed the "burqa law" — originated with Chega, Portugal's far-right party, and was passed in parliament with support from the centre-right Social Democratic Party (PSD) of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, though the final text was softened from Chega's original proposal, which would have banned all visible religious symbols including headscarves. Violators face fines of up to €3,000, while anyone who coerces a woman into covering her face could face up to two years in prison; legal experts have questioned the law's constitutionality, arguing it infringes on religious freedom, though President António José Seguro chose to sign it into law without referring it to the Constitutional Court, citing security and gender equality grounds.