The Italian government has approved a ban on the burqa and niqab in schools, alongside 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 those with poor knowledge of the Italian language in the first year of primary, middle, and high school.

Government's Position

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the measures as "common-sense tools that do not divide but really help to integrate." In contrast, 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. He has framed the ban on the niqab and burqa as a matter of gender equality, asserting, "You must go to school with your face uncovered," and adding that no one should decide that a young woman should hide herself in the name of tradition.

Details of the Ban

Several drafts of the decree were discussed ahead of Thursday's council of ministers meeting, but the core details were clear. The veil ban will apply to the burqa and niqab, but not the hijab, which leaves the face visible. The niqab is a veil that covers the face, leaving the area around the eyes clear, while the burqa is a one-piece veil that covers the face and body, often with a mesh screen around the eyes.

According to the research institution Fondazione ISMU, non-Italian citizens make up 11.6% of pupils in Italy's schools. The 30% limit on pupils who speak limited Italian will be applied differently across various educational stages:

  • In primary schools, it will cover non-Italian citizens who have either not been born in Italy or who have not attended at least two years of nursery school.
  • In lower- and upper-secondary schools, it will apply to pupils without Italian citizenship who have not successfully completed at least three years in the Italian school system.