The measure was adopted by the Council of Ministers and announced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who said it was intended to improve integration and prevent the formation of "ghetto classes" [1]. According to the text, the decree prohibits face coverings that prevent identification during school activities.
It covers burqas and niqabs but leaves hijabs, which do not cover the face, unaffected. Violations can bring fines of up to €1,000 ($1,113.44), officials said [2].
The classroom cap applies to first-year classes for pupils who were not born in Italy or who did not attend at least two years of preschool, according to the government. In lower and upper secondary schools, officials said, the limit applies to pupils who have not attended the Italian school system for at least three years [3].
Details of the Decree
The decree sets a 30% limit on pupils without Italian citizenship in first-year primary, middle and high school classes, according to the government's announcement. Local authorities can grant exceptions when pupils cannot be placed elsewhere and can provide additional language support, officials said [2].
The package combines restrictions with language instruction for students and some parents, and it includes fines for noncompliance, according to the Council of Ministers announcement. Italy already had flexible guidance issued in 2010 recommending a 30% limit on pupils without Italian citizenship in a class; the new decree puts restrictions into law, officials said [3].
The decree must be approved by parliament within 60 days to remain in force, the government stated [1]. Opposition parties have accused the government of pandering to anti-immigrant sentiment, according to parliamentary statements [2].
Meloni Comments
Writing on X, Meloni described the measures as "tools of common sense that do not divide, but truly help to integrate, avoiding ghetto classes and giving all students the same opportunities," according to her post [1].
In a televised address, Meloni stated that the burqa ban is "a matter of security," officials said. She added that "when a woman, or worse, a young girl, is forced to cover her face, she is being denied fundamental rights and the very integration that is so often loudly championed," according to the address [1].
Muslim groups have warned that the measures infringe on religious freedom and could further marginalize immigrant communities, according to statements released after the announcement [4]. The decree follows a broader debate over face coverings in Italy; last year, Meloni's party proposed a ban on full-face veils in public places, but the bill has yet to pass parliament, according to legislative records [1].
Political and Legal Context
Meloni initially announced the plans on Sept. 2o at a gathering of her Brothers of Italy party's youth wing in Rome, according to party statements [1]. The announcement drew criticism from opposition parties, who accused the government of exploiting anti-Muslim sentiment for political gain, according to media reports [5].
The move follows a broader European trend. France banned full-face veils in public in 2011, Denmark followed in 2018, and Switzerland's nationwide ban took effect in 2025, according to official records [1]. Denmark has also considered extending its ban to schools, officials said.
The European Court of Justice ruled in 2023 that government employers can ban the wearing of religious dress such as burqas and hijabs in the interest of maintaining an "entirely neutral administrative environment," according to the ruling [1]. The Italian decree must still be approved by parliament within 60 days to remain in force, the government stated [2].
Conclusion
Italy's approval of the burqa and niqab ban in schools, coupled with the 30% cap on pupils with limited Italian, represents a significant shift in the country's approach to integration and religious expression. The decree, which must be approved by parliament within 60 days, has drawn support from the government as a measure to promote integration and security, while facing criticism from opposition parties and Muslim groups who argue it infringes on religious freedom [1][5].
As European nations continue to debate similar measures, the outcome in Italy may set a precedent for how governments balance security, integration, and religious liberty. The decree's implementation and its impact on Italy's immigrant communities will be closely watched in the coming months [2][4].
References
- Italy bans burqas in schools. RT. September 25, 2026.
- Italy ministers agree to ban burqa and niqab in school and cap foreigners in class. BBC. September 24, 2026.
- Italy Adopts School Burqa Ban, 30 Percent Cap on Foreign Students With Limited Italian. The Epoch Times. September 25, 2026.
- Italy Set to Debate Nationwide Ban on Burqas and Other Religious Garments That Conceal Identity. YourNews. November 24, 2025.
- Who gets to be Italian? The rise and rise of Islamophobia in Italy. Middle East Eye. September 25, 2026.
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