Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced plans to ban burqas and niqabs in schools and to limit the number of foreign students in classrooms. She outlined the proposals on Sunday at a gathering of her party’s youth wing, with immigration expected to feature prominently in next year’s general election.
Meloni said the measures would also require compulsory Italian language lessons for parents of foreign students who face serious difficulties integrating into the school system. “For us, anyone who comes to Italy and wants to build their future here must learn our language, understand our culture, and respect our rules,” she stated. “It is the only serious way to welcome them.”
Once approved by the government, the changes would need parliamentary approval within 60 days to become law. Meloni’s administration is the longest-serving Italian government since the end of the Second World War, though her Brothers of Italy party is expected to face a challenge from parties further to the right in the 2027 election.
Burqas fully cover the face, including the eyes, while niqabs leave the eyes visible. Neither is currently expressly banned in Italy, though a 1975 law restricts helmets or garments that hinder identification without justification. A later ruling allowed full-face coverings for religious or cultural reasons provided the face can be revealed for identity checks when required. A coalition partner had earlier this year submitted a bill seeking broader restrictions on such garments.
Alongside the face-covering ban, Meloni said she would introduce a legal limit on the number of foreign students per class. A 30 percent limit already exists under current rules, though she did not detail how the new measure would differ. Foreign students currently account for about 12 percent of enrolment in Italian schools.
The announcements come amid ongoing debate over integration and immigration policy in the country.