Italy plans school ban on burqa, niqab; foreign student numbers may be capped

ROME: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is moving to ban burqas and niqabs, which cover the face, in schools and is also considering imposing a limit on the number of foreign students in schools. Meloni said the measure to ban burqas and niqabs in schools would be presented to the Cabinet soon. The government is also considering a proposal requiring parents of foreign students to learn Italian. However, it has not yet specified the proposed limit on the number of foreign students. “Students should go to school without covering their faces,” Meloni said, adding that no one in Italy should have the right to require girls to cover their faces in the name of tradition.

The proposal specifically refers to burqas and niqabs. A burqa is a garment that covers the entire body, including the eyes, while a niqab covers the body and leaves the eyes visible. A hijab covers the hair and neck but does not cover the face. Italy already has restrictions under a 1975 law on wearing clothing in public places that makes it difficult to identify a person.

France was the first European country to introduce a nationwide ban on face-covering clothing in public places. The law came into effect in 2011. Those who violate it can be fined and, in some cases, may also be required to attend a citizenship course.