Key facts
- Italy's government approved a ban on the burqa and niqab in schools.
- A 30 percent cap will be imposed on children without Italian citizenship or poor knowledge of the Italian language in the first year of primary, middle and high school.
- Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the measures as "common-sense tools that do not divide but really help to integrate".
- Italy's citizenship system is based primarily on descent, meaning children born in the country to non-Italian parents do not automatically acquire citizenship.
- Roberto Vannacci, a former army general and founder of Futuro Nazionale, stated that immigrants should not become Italian citizens easily because "then this citizen votes" not for Italy's good but for their own.
Italy's government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has approved new school regulations that include a ban on face coverings such as the burqa and niqab, and a cap of 30 percent on non-Italian pupils in the first year of primary, middle, and high school. Meloni stated these measures are intended as "common-sense tools that do not divide but really help to integrate." The announcement comes as Italy approaches a national election in 2027, with immigration, Islam, and national identity being central themes in the political discourse.
The distinction between "Italian" and "foreign" children is based on citizenship, which in Italy is primarily determined by descent rather than birthplace. This means children born and raised in Italy to non-Italian parents may not automatically acquire Italian citizenship.
These policy changes follow recent incidents, including a banner with anti-immigrant slogans appearing outside a school in Mestre and a dispute over plans for a new mosque in the same area. Anna Maria Cisint, a European parliament member for the Lega party, has been a vocal opponent of the mosque project. Meanwhile, Roberto Vannacci, a former army general and founder of the far-right movement Futuro Nazionale, has gained traction with his platform of "remigration" and has stated that immigrants should not be granted citizenship too easily because they might not vote for Italy's interests.