Portugal has enacted a controversial new law banning face coverings in public, with violators facing penalties of up to £2,500 or $3400 USD. President António José Seguro officially signed the legislation on Monday, prohibiting face coverings in public areas, including religious attire that conceals the face or prevents identification.

In a statement released Tuesday, President Antonio Jose Seguro explained: “The face must be considered a central element of human identity and communication.” The law also prohibits compelling individuals to cover their faces based on gender, religion, age or origin. The far-right Chega party originally introduced the proposal.

Parliament passed the measure on July 17 with backing from the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), Chega, the Liberal Initiative (IL), and CDS-PP.

The measure has been nicknamed the “burqa law” in reference to the full-body covering worn by certain Muslim women.

Penalties under the new legislation range from $175 to $3500. Exemptions apply for health, professional, artistic, and weather-related purposes, as well as in specific locations such as houses of worship, diplomatic facilities, and airplanes.

President Seguro characterized the matter as one of “great social and cultural sensitivity” and emphasized the need to balance rights and responsibilities in the decision.

He further argued the legislation would promote social integration, gender equality and security. The measure means Portugal has joined European countries such as Austria, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, which have full or partial bans on face and head coverings.

The legislation has faced strong backlash from the left wing parties, which voted against the measure and human rights campaigners.

“This initiative is used solely to target foreigners, those who have a different faith,” said center-left Socialist party lawmaker Pedro Delgado Alves, whose party voted against the bill.

The Executive Director of Amnesty International – Portugal, João Godinho Martins, called the law “discriminatory”.

He said: Despite having removed direct references to Islam, which were a part of previous versions of the text, this new law clearly violates the human rights of Muslim women who choose to cover their faces. It is a direct threat to their freedom of expression and freedom of religion.

“No one should dictate what a woman may or may not wear, and no woman should be penalised for practising her faith, cultural identity or beliefs.”