{
  "id": 8779213,
  "title": "Italy to ban burqas in schools",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/italy-to-ban-burqas-in-schools",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T21:59:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/09/21/italy-to-ban-burqas-in-schools"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced plans to ban burqas and niqabs in schools, as well as limit the number of foreign students in each classroom, according to a report from the EPA Images. Integration difficulties for some foreign students may require parents to learn Italian, Meloni said, emphasizing that Italy is a significant migrant country and integration is a key issue leading up to the 2023 general election.\n\nA cabinet meeting will soon present a measure to legally establish a maximum number of foreign students per class, Meloni told a youth wing gathering of her Brothers of Italy (FdI) party. The National Future (FN) party, the far-right wing further to the right than Meloni's coalition, had previously called for a crackdown on burqa use in schools in July. Although no explicit law bans burqas in Italy, a 1975 law prohibits the use of helmets or garments difficult to identify without a justified reason. In 2008, Italy's highest administrative court clarified that full-face veils can be worn for religious or cultural reasons if the face is visible for identification purposes.\n\nCurrently, foreign students make up nearly 12% of those enrolled in Italian schools, with the number limited to below 30% since 2010. The limit can be adjusted for foreign students with good Italian language skills or lowered when students struggle with the language.",
  "summary": "Italy is a frontline country for migration, with integration a major campaign issue ahead of a general election next year.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Meloni unveils Italy school plan to ban burqas, niqabs, limit foreign pupils",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/meloni-unveils-italy-school-plan-to-ban-burqas-niqabs-limit-foreign",
        "published": "2026-09-20T16:17:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "National Post",
        "title": "Italy banning burqas, niqabs from schools: PM",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/italy-banning-burqas-niqabs-from-schools-pm",
        "published": "2026-09-20T16:56:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "Italy Will Soon Ban Burqas In School, Cap Foreign Students: Giorgia Meloni",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/italy-will-soon-ban-burqas-in-school-cap-foreign-students-giorgia",
        "published": "2026-09-20T17:15:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Italy to ban burqas in schools",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/italy-to-ban-burqas-in-schools-8783175",
        "published": "2026-09-20T21:59:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}