President Antonio Jose Seguro has enacted a law banning the concealment of faces in public in Portugal, reports Euroactiv.

The final version of the text of this law—described by local media as the “burqa law”—is widely seen as a measure aimed primarily at Muslim women who wear the full-face veil.

“The face must be considered a central element of human identity and communication,” President Seguro said in a statement late Tuesday.

The law was adopted by parliament in July with votes from the right-wing governing coalition and the far right, while left-wing parties voted against it.

The law prohibits the wearing of garments designed to conceal the face or prevent identification in public spaces, as well as any coercion forcing a person to cover their face for reasons related to gender, religion, age, or origin.

Rights campaigners have long pointed out that such bans also effectively erode women’s rights by telling them what to wear.

Seguro acknowledged that the issue was one of “great social and cultural sensitivity.”

In Portugal, violators of this law face fines ranging from €150 to €3,000. Exemptions are provided for reasons such as health, professional, artistic or weather-related needs, as well as within places of worship, diplomatic missions, and on airplanes.