Meloni promises to ban burqas, niqabs in Italy’s schools

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Sunday that her government will move to prohibit burqas and niqabs in Italian schools and introduce limits on the number of foreign students in classrooms. She outlined the measures at the Gioventu Nazionale festival in Rome, speaking to members of the youth wing of her Brothers of Italy (FdI) party and saying that parents of foreign pupils who have "serious difficulties integrating into the school system" would be required to take Italian-language lessons. Meloni framed the proposals as an integration measure, telling the audience that anyone who wants to build a future in Italy must learn the language, understand the culture and respect national rules. She spoke to a standing ovation, and said the government would submit the changes for approval; if approved by the cabinet they would require parliamentary approval within 60 days to become law. Neither burqas nor niqabs are expressly outlawed in Italy. A 1975 law bans helmets or garments that impede identification unless there is a justified reason, and a 2008 ruling allowed full-face coverings for religious or cultural reasons provided the face is revealed when identity checks are necessary. The League, one of the coalition partners in Meloni’s government, has earlier this year proposed a bill that would ban helmets or garments except in specified circumstances such as sporting events or places of worship. Meloni did not specify how any new numerical cap on foreign pupils would differ from existing rules. Italian law already includes a 30% limit on foreign students per class and school, while foreign pupils currently account for roughly 12% of enrolment. The announcement comes as Meloni’s FdI faces a potential electoral challenge in 2027 from the National Future (FN) party, which polls show has been gaining popularity and has itself called for a crackdown on burqas in schools.