Italy plans to ban burqas and niqabs in schools

Italy is preparing to ban the wearing of burqas and niqabs in schools, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Sunday.

Meloni said her government would soon present the measure to the Cabinet as part of a wider plan to improve the integration of foreign students.

• Iran says it has given US conditions for reopening Hormuz
• Maresca wants 1-0 wins after eight-goal Man City thriller

The proposed measure would also set a maximum number of foreign students allowed in each class. However, Meloni did not say what the new limit would be.

Parents of foreign students who face serious difficulties integrating into the Italian school system would also be required to learn Italian, she said.

Meloni said students should attend school with their faces uncovered, arguing that no one should be required to hide their face in an Italian classroom.

Burqas cover the entire face, while niqabs cover the face but leave the eyes visible. Neither is currently expressly banned in Italian schools.

Italy already has rules restricting the number of foreign students in classrooms, with a general limit of 30% under existing regulations, although exceptions apply.

The proposed changes will need approval by Parliament before they can become law.

The announcement comes as migration and the integration of foreign communities remain major issues in Italian politics ahead of next year’s general election.