**Italy Bans Burqas and Niqabs in Schools to Enhance Integration**
In a significant policy shift, the Italian government has enacted a ban on burqas and niqabs in schools, accompanied by new regulations aimed at improving the integration of non-Italian speaking students. The decree, adopted on Thursday, prohibits face coverings that obstruct identification during school activities, a move Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni argues will help prevent the emergence of "ghetto classes."
The new legislation specifically targets burqas and niqabs, which cover the face entirely, while allowing hijabs, which do not obscure the face, to remain permissible. Under the new rules, schools that violate the ban could face fines of up to €1,000.
In addition to the face-covering ban, the government has instituted a cap on the number of pupils with limited proficiency in Italian within certain classes. For first-year classes, the limit is set at 30% for students without Italian citizenship. This regulation applies to primary school students who were not born in Italy or who have not attended at least two years of preschool. For lower and upper secondary schools, the cap applies to students who have not been part of the Italian educational system for a minimum of three years. Local authorities will have the discretion to grant exceptions when necessary, especially for students who cannot be placed in other classes and require additional language support.
Prime Minister Meloni expressed her support for the measures on social media platform X, describing them as "tools of common sense" that aim to foster integration and provide equal opportunities for all students. In a televised address, she emphasized that the burqa ban is also a matter of security, asserting that forcing women or young girls to cover their faces denies them fundamental rights and hinders their integration into society.
This new decree builds upon existing guidelines established in 2010, which recommended a similar 30% limit on non-Italian citizens in classrooms. However, the recent legislation formalizes these restrictions into law, requiring parliamentary approval within 60 days for the measures to remain effective.
The introduction of this decree is part of a broader discourse on face coverings within Italy, which has seen increasing scrutiny in recent years. Meloni's party, Brothers of Italy, previously proposed a nationwide ban on full-face veils in public spaces, although that bill has yet to progress through parliament.
The move aligns with a wider trend across Europe regarding the regulation of face coverings. France implemented a ban on full-face veils in public spaces in 2011, followed by Denmark in 2018, while Switzerland is set to enforce a nationwide ban in 2025. Denmark is also considering extending its ban to include schools.
In a related development, the European Court of Justice ruled in 2023 that public sector employers can prohibit the wearing of religious attire, such as burqas and hijabs, to maintain a neutral administrative environment.
As Italy navigates these changes, the government's focus remains on fostering a cohesive educational environment that promotes integration while addressing concerns over security and cultural assimilation. The new regulations reflect an ongoing effort to balance individual freedoms with societal expectations in a rapidly changing demographic landscape.