On Thursday, Portugal joined a growing list of European countries that have banned or restricted burqas and other full-face veils in public spaces.
But rules vary widely across the continent. Euronews breaks down how different European countries regulate face coverings.
France pioneered Europe’s face-covering ban
France became the first European country to ban full-face coverings in public spaces in 2011. Violations can result in a fine or mandatory civic education.
The French government argued that face coverings prevent people from being clearly identified, posing potential security risks and hindering social interaction in a society where facial recognition and expression play an important role in communication.
