Italy to Ban Burqas/Niqabs in Schools and Limit Foreign Students

Italy is preparing to ban the wearing of burqas and niqabs in schools and introduce a cap on the number of foreign students in classrooms, as immigration takes centre stage in the country. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, speaking at a youth event organised by her Brothers of Italy party in Rome on Sunday stated that Italian language classes would be made compulsory for parents of foreign students facing serious difficulties integrating into the school system. “For us, anyone who comes to Italy and wants to build their future here must learn our language, understand our culture, and respect our rules,” Meloni said at the Gioventu Nazionale national festival in Rome. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni plans new rules to limit foreign students per class, require Italian lessons for parents, and ban burqas and niqabs in schools https://t.co/UN1TCmLJog pic.twitter.com/CdyDC3IKhk — Reuters (@Reuters) September 20, 2026 The proposed measures will have to be approved by the government and then receive parliamentary approval within 60 days to become law, according to the Al Jazeera reports. Italy already has a 30 per cent limit on foreign students in a class or school, although Meloni did not specify how her proposed cap would alter the existing rules. Foreign students currently account for around 12 per cent of enrolment in Italian schools. Burqas, which cover the entire face and niqabs, which leave the eyes visible, usually worn by Muslim women are not explicitly banned in Italy. A 1975 law prohibits garments that make identification difficult without a justified reason, while a 2008 ruling allowed full-face coverings for religious or cultural reasons, provided the face is uncovered when identity checks are required, Al Jazeera report. Meloni’s coalition partner, the anti-immigration League, has already introduced a bill seeking tighter restrictions on face-covering garments, with exceptions including sporting events and places of worship.