Portugal: 'Freedom' Only Applies to Faces We Approve
Portugal's parliament just approved a bill banning face coverings for 'gender or religious reasons' in public. The New Arab rightly points out this is 'widely seen as targeting Muslim women.' Conveniently, this renewed push for bodily autonomy (but only for specific bodies) echoes similar bans across Europe, like France's 2010 niqab ban or Belgium's 2011 version. These policies consistently ignore
how women's agency, not what they wear, is the true mark of freedom, instead choosing to weaponize the state against a visible religious minority. While politicians champion 'integration' and 'secular values,' one might wonder if true liberation involves the state dictating clothing choices. Or if it's selectively applied to groups deemed 'other.' It seems Europe's fierce defense of individual
liberty often takes a holiday when it involves Muslim women exercising their own interpretation of faith and public life. The outrage over covering faces, juxtaposed with the silence on economic disparities or systemic discrimination, truly 'reveals' the priorities.