The cabinet will submit a bill that prohibits the wearing of burqa and niqab in all Italian schools for the 2024‑25 academic year. It explicitly excludes hijabs, which cover only hair and neck, and adds a clause to restrict foreign student numbers per classroom—though the exact cap remains unannounced.
Italy’s 1975 law already bars clothing that impedes identification in public spaces, but it never addressed full‑face veils in schools. The current proposal would be the first nationwide ban targeting burqa and niqab within the educational setting, a move that echoes Austria’s 2026 school‑level restrictions on headscarves.
Across Europe, approaches vary wildly: France, Belgium and Denmark enforce blanket public‑space bans, while the Netherlands limits face coverings to schools, hospitals and transport. Italy’s plan sits squarely with Austria’s strategy, focusing on classroom environments rather than public venues.
The measure now enters the legislative arena. After cabinet approval, it will be debated in the Italian Parliament, where opposition parties have already signaled strong resistance. A vote is expected in early June, and the outcome will determine whether Italy joins a handful of EU states that have enacted school‑specific veil bans.