Italy ministers agree to ban burqa and niqab in school and cap foreigners in class

The Italian government has approved a ban on the burqa and niqab in schools, along with a limit on the share of pupils who speak little Italian in any one class. A 30% cap will be imposed on children without Italian citizenship or poor knowledge of the Italian language in the first year of primary, middle, and high school.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the measures as "common-sense tools that do not divide but really help to integrate." However, opposition parties accuse the government of pandering to the policies of the hard-right Futuro Nazionale party, ahead of a general election next year.

Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara has stated that the limit is "purely linguistic" rather than one of citizenship, while framing the ban on the niqab and burqa as a matter of gender equality. "You must go to school with your face uncovered," Meloni said while announcing the plans on Sunday, adding that no one could decide that a young woman should hide herself in the name of tradition.

There were several drafts of the decree ahead of Thursday's council of ministers meeting, but the core details were clear. The veil ban would apply to the burqa and niqab, but not the hijab, which leaves the face visible. The niqab is a veil for the face that leaves the area around the eyes clear, often worn with a separate eye veil and an accompanying headscarf. The burqa is a one-piece veil that covers the face and body, often featuring a mesh screen around the eyes.