Italy bans burqa, niqab in schools

Italy's government has pushed ahead with plans to ban face-covering clothing in schools and limit the number of foreign students in classrooms. Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera reported that a fine has also been stipulated for violating the new rules.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the proposed changes at a gathering of the youth wing of the nationalist-conservative Brothers of Italy (FdI) party on Sunday. Earlier on Thursday, her cabinet approved a decree-law. Under it, alongside banning burqas and niqabs in schools, the number of students who cannot speak Italian in classrooms is to be limited to 30 percent from next year. Violating the new rules could result in a fine of up to $1,140 or 1,000 euros.

As it is a decree-law, it can take immediate effect. However, it must receive parliamentary approval within 60 days. President Sergio Mattarella will also sign it. However, he indicated this week that he is cautious about creating any kind of obstacle in the education sector.

In a post on social media platform X, Giorgia Meloni said steps such as creating opportunities to learn Italian and "banning" burqas and niqabs in schools do not create division, but are a matter of "common sense". She wrote that the path they want to move forward on is a school system that integrates without abandoning rules, helps those who have more problems and gives everyone the opportunity to start from the same place.

However, the government's opponents say that ahead of next year's election, the government is using these rules to counter the growing popularity of the far-right National Future (FN) party led by former army officer Roberto Vannacci. It may be mentioned that as part of its "remigration" campaign to send immigrants back to their own countries, the FN had demanded a ban on burqas in schools last July.