Meloni Pushes to Ban Burqa and Niab in Italian Schools

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced plans to set caps on the number of foreign students in Italian schools and ban body-covering attire such as the burqa.

According to Reuters, Prime Minister Meloni stated during an annual youth event of her far-right Brothers of Italy party on the 20th (local time) that a bill legally setting a limit on the proportion of foreign students per classroom will soon be submitted to the Council of Ministers.

She added that the proposal will also include a ban on wearing the burqa and niqab inside Italian schools.

The burqa is a full-body garment that covers a woman from head to toe, while the niqab is a veil that covers the face while leaving the eyes uncovered.

Both are garments primarily worn by Muslim women.

Prime Minister Meloni emphasized, "Faces must be uncovered at school," adding, "In Italy, young women cannot cover their bodies under the guise of tradition."

According to the Italian non-profit ISMU Foundation, students without Italian citizenship account for 11.6% of enrolled students in Italian schools.

Ahead of the general election next year, the Meloni government has been taking a hardline stance on issues such as immigration.

Some observers suggest this move is conscious of the surging new far-right party, Future of the Nation, which has gained momentum by advocating even stricter anti-immigration policies than the Meloni administration.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.