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The Nordic Times

Polaris of Enlightenment

The Nordic Times

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https://nordictimes.com/europe/portugal-set-to-ban-burqas/

Europe

Portugal set to ban burqas

Published October 21, 2025 – By Editorial staff
NOTE: The image is an archive photo from Denmark, 2021.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Portuguese Parliament has voted to ban face coverings in most public spaces.

The proposal was initiated by the Chega party and is justified as a measure to strengthen gender equality and women's rights in society.

Burqas and niqabs are expected to be banned in public places in Portugal if the bill is approved by the country's president.

The measure applies when these are worn for "reasons related to gender and religion" and carries fines of between €200 and €4,000 for violations. Anyone who forces someone to wear a face covering also risks up to three years in prison.

If the law comes into force, Portugal would join other European countries that have already introduced full or partial bans on burqas and niqabs, including France, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa can, however, veto the bill or refer it to the constitutional court for review.

André Ventura, leader of the Chega party, said during the debate: – Protecting female members of parliament, your daughters, our daughters, from having to use burqas in this country one day.

Women from left-wing parties oppose the proposal

Several female parliamentarians from left-wing parties opposed the proposal and confronted Ventura in the chamber, but the bill was approved with support from the center-right coalition governing the country.

– This is a debate on equality between men and women. No woman should be forced to veil her face, declared Andreia Neto from the Social Democratic Party before the vote.

Only a small minority of Muslim women in Europe wear full face coverings, and in Portugal they are very rare. However, due to immigration from Muslim countries, their use is gradually increasing.

Full veils such as niqabs and burqas have long been a highly controversial issue in Europe, where critics argue that they symbolize gender discrimination, religious fundamentalism, or may pose a security threat.

The bill in Portugal has therefore become a central issue in the debate about balancing religious freedom, gender equality, and security. If finally approved, it is expected to resemble the rules already in place in several other EU countries.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Portugal and the burqa ban

  • Ban on: Burqa and niqab in public places in Portugal
  • Origin of the bill: Introduced by the Chega party (a Portuguese right-wing populist party)
  • Fines: €200–€4,000 for violations
  • Imprisonment: Up to three years for anyone who forces someone to wear a burqa or niqab
  • President's role: Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa can veto or refer the proposal to the constitutional court
  • European comparisons: Similar to laws in France, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands
  • Background: Only a small minority of Muslim women wear face coverings in Portugal. However, the trend is increasing somewhat due to immigration

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https://nordictimes.com/europe/eu-wants-to-increase-swedens-membership-fee-by-60-percent/

Europe

EU wants to increase Sweden’s membership fee by 60 percent

The globalist agenda

Published today 12:00 pm – By Editorial staff
1 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The European Commission's budget proposal threatens to make Sweden's EU membership fee 60 percent more expensive. Swedish EU Minister Jessica Rosencrantz (M) calls the proposal "unrealistic".

The Commission's seven-year budget plan for 2028–2034 amounts to nearly €2,000 billion. Sweden's current fee is approximately €4 billion per year.

During Tuesday's ministerial meeting in Brussels, Jessica Rosencrantz, representing Sweden's center-right Moderate Party, distanced herself from the plans.

— For Sweden, this means at least a 60 percent increase in fees. That is not realistic and many other countries face similar challenges, she told Swedish public radio.

Sweden, together with Austria, gathered several net contributors for breakfast before the meeting – countries that pay more into the EU budget than they receive back in support. Rosencrantz notes there is shared concern about how large the increases could be.

But unity was not complete. French Minister Benjamin Haddad made clear that Paris wants a larger budget, not least to secure agricultural subsidies.

— The EU needs more own resources, Haddad stated.

He was referring to a system where money goes directly to Brussels without passing through national parliaments – something Sweden rejects.

The budget issue will be discussed at the summit in December, but a final decision is not expected until 2027.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/europe/france-young-women-suspected-of-planning-terror-attack/

Europe

France: Young women suspected of planning terror attack

The Islamization of Europe

Published November 10, 2025 – By Editorial staff
The three arrested young women describe themselves as Salafists and all wear niqab. NOTE: Archive image - the women in the picture have no connection to the article.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Three young women have been arrested in France suspected of planning a jihadist terror attack in Paris. The arrests come as France commemorates the 10th anniversary of the 2015 terror attacks.

The young women, aged 18, 19 and 21, were arrested in Lyon, Villeurbanne and Vierzon. They are suspected of planning a jihadist terror attack targeting a bar or concert venue in Paris.

According to French media and investigative sources, they had been exchanging messages about a violent attack in the French capital for several weeks. The three suspects were arrested as part of an investigation that began this summer.

One of the women, who is reportedly considered the leader and most radicalized, was first discovered through another person already under surveillance by intelligence services.

Her messages and contacts with the two other women have been under close surveillance since mid-summer.

The investigation is being led by France's National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (PNAT).

Investigation and evidence

According to the investigation, the main suspect discussed topics including the price of a Kalashnikov-type automatic rifle and the manufacture of explosive belts. During a search, a note about preparations for a jihadist attack was also found.

The two other suspects have different backgrounds: one has mobility impairments and has lived in foster care, while the youngest is described as "naive" in some of her messages.

According to the investigation, the women met physically at least once, which strengthens suspicions that the group intended to carry out an attack.

During questioning, one of the women admitted that she may have been radicalized, but claims she has gradually abandoned jihadist ideology. All deny planning an attack.

According to French authorities, this is the sixth planned terrorist attack thwarted in France since the beginning of 2025.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/europe/shein-sold-sex-dolls-with-childlike-appearance-faces-ban-threat-in-france/

Europe

Shein sold sex dolls with childlike appearance – faces ban threat in France

Published November 4, 2025 – By Editorial staff
The sex dolls were marketed as "male masturbation toys" with "erotic bodies" and were depicted holding teddy bears.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Chinese e-commerce giant Shein has sold sex dolls with childlike appearance on its platform. Now the company faces a potential ban in France and the finance minister is demanding a legal investigation.

The Chinese e-commerce giant has plans to open its first physical store in the world on November 5 in Paris, France. The company, known for selling so-called ultra-fast fashion, has faced criticism in France for undeclared microplastics in products and for working conditions in its factories.

Over the weekend, however, new problems emerged for the fast-fashion giant when it was revealed that there was more than fast fashion in their product range – the company was also selling sex dolls.

The dolls, approximately 80 centimeters long, have the features and body shape of a small girl and hold teddy bears in their arms. The product description contained, according to French newspaper Le Monde, sexually explicit language and described the items as "male masturbation toys" with "erotic body".

"Horrible"

After the French anti-fraud authority DGCCRF drew attention to the dolls, they were removed from sale and Shein stated that it has initiated an internal investigation into the matter.

But French Finance Minister Roland Lescure was not satisfied with that. On Monday, he threatened to ban the company from the French market.

— For terrorist acts, drug trafficking and child pornographic objects, the government has the right to request that access to the French market be prohibited, he said according to French BFMTV and continued:

— These horrible things are illegal. There will be a legal investigation.

Since the establishment of the Paris store became known, several brands have withdrawn their products from the department store in protest. In addition to Paris, the fast-fashion giant plans to open five more stores in France during November.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/europe/knife-attack-on-train-in-england-nine-critically-injured/

Europe

Knife attack on train in England – nine critically injured

Deteriorating safety

Published November 2, 2025 – By Editorial staff
"Not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident", according to police.
3 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Ten people have been taken to hospital following a knife attack on a London-bound train in eastern England, with nine of the injured suffering life-threatening injuries. Two people have been arrested and counter-terrorism police are participating in the investigation, but no motive has yet been established.

Bloodied passengers streamed out of the intercity train when it made an emergency stop in the town of Huntingdon, where dozens of police officers were waiting, shortly after multiple stabbings were reported on board. Two people were arrested by armed police at the station.

Police have not identified the suspects or revealed any motive, but state that counter-terrorism police are supporting the investigation.

"Ten people have been taken to hospital with nine believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries. This has been declared a major incident and Counter Terrorism Policing are supporting our investigation whilst we work to establish the full circumstances and motivation for this incident", the British Transport Police said in a statement early Sunday morning.

Police stated that "Plato", the national code word used by police and emergency services during suspected terrorist attacks, was activated. This declaration was later withdrawn, but no motive for the attack has been made public.

Unwilling to comment on motive

— We're conducting urgent enquiries to establish what has happened, and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further, commented Chief Superintendent Chris Casey, according to AP.

— At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.

The attack took place when the train from Doncaster in northern England to London's King's Cross station was approximately halfway through its two-hour journey and approaching Huntingdon, a market town a few miles northwest of the university city of Cambridge.

Passenger Olly Foster told the BBC that he heard people shouting "run, run, there's a guy literally stabbing everyone", and initially thought it might be a Halloween prank. But when passengers pushed past him to escape, he noticed his hand was covered in blood from a chair he had leaned against.

"Horrendous scenes"

Emergency services, including armed police and air ambulances, arrived quickly as the train rolled into Huntingdon. The attack appears to have been stopped quickly after the train arrived at the station, and officers in forensic suits, along with a police dog, could be seen on the platform.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary, the local police force, stated that officers were called at 7:39 PM on Saturday evening to the scene, approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of London.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his "thoughts are with all those affected" by the "appalling incident".

Paul Bristow, mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said he had heard of "horrendous scenes" on the train.

London North Eastern Railway, LNER, which operates the East Coast Main Line service in Britain, confirmed that the incident occurred on one of its trains and announced there would be major disruptions on the route until Monday.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com