Another European Country to Ban Burqas and Niqabs in Schools

Italy is set to introduce new regulations that would outlaw burqas and niqabs in schools, as well as cap the number of foreign students in each class, announced Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at a youth event. The government plans to propose a legal limit on foreign students in each classroom, with the specifics yet to be determined.

Currently, Italy lacks a law explicitly prohibiting the wearing of face-covering garments in educational institutions or public spaces. A 1975 statute prevents individuals from donning helmets or clothing that hinders identification without a valid reason. In 2008, Italy's top administrative court ruled that full-face veils can be worn for religious or cultural purposes, but faces must be visible when authorities need to verify identities.

The country already restricts foreign student enrollment to 30% of a class and a school's total enrollment, with authorities able to adjust the cap based on students' Italian language proficiency and integration requirements. Foreign students constitute less than 12% of the total enrolment in Italian schools, as per the National Statistics Institute. Meloni did not divulge how the government intends to modify the existing 30% cap.