Burqa, Niqab Ban In Italian Schools: PM Giorgia Meloni Announces New Plan

Roughly 24 countries worldwide, including France and China, already have some form of burqa or niqab ban in place

September 21, 2026

PM Giorgia Meloni has proposed banning burqas and niqabs in Italian schools, alongside a cap on foreign students per class and mandatory Italian classes for struggling families, ahead of Italy's 2027 election

Italy moves toward burqa ban in schools as Meloni faces rightward pressure

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced a package of new school measures that would ban the burqa and niqab in classrooms, cap the number of foreign students per class, and require parents of students facing serious integration difficulties to attend Italian language classes. Meloni unveiled the plans on Sunday at Gioventù Nazionale, an annual gathering of the youth wing of her ruling Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, in Rome, telling the crowd that anyone wanting to build a future in Italy needs to learn the language, understand the culture, and respect the country’s rules.

What’s Actually In The Proposal

The package includes three distinct measures: a legal cap on the number of foreign students allowed in any single classroom or college course, mandatory Italian-language classes for parents of children struggling to integrate into the school system, and a ban on face-covering garments in schools specifically. Meloni referred explicitly to the burqa, which traditionally covers the entire body along with a mesh over the eyes, and the niqab, which covers the face but leaves the eyes visible — she made no mention of the hijab, which covers the hair and neck but leaves the face uncovered. Under the proposed amendment, forcing someone to conceal their face would become a distinct criminal offence, carrying one to two years in prison and fines between €10,000 and €30,000, with those convicted also barred from obtaining Italian citizenship. The bill will go before the Italian cabinet before requiring parliamentary approval within 60 days of clearing government review.

Where Italy Fits Globally And Regionally

Italy currently has no explicit ban on the burqa or niqab, though a 1975 law already prohibits helmets or garments that prevent identification in public. According to available reporting, roughly 24 countries worldwide — including France and China — currently maintain some form of burqa or niqab ban. Within Europe, France and Belgium already restrict face coverings in public places, and Austria has introduced similar restrictions specifically within schools, while countries like Spain and Poland treat the matter as a protected question of freedom of conscience and religion.

The Political Backdrop

The announcement lands roughly a year before Italy’s next general election, expected in 2027, with immigration shaping up as a central campaign issue. Meloni’s government is currently Italy’s longest-running since World War II, but her party faces a rising challenge from further-right competitors — most notably retired general Roberto Vannacci’s National Future (FN) party, whose popularity has climbed steadily in polls since February and which had already called for a crackdown on burqas in schools back in July. Framing the proposal, Meloni told the youth gathering that Italian children “cannot feel like a minority in the classroom.”

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