Italy’s Burqa Ban in Schools Sparks Muslim Backlash

Italy’s right-wing government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has moved to ban the wearing of burqas and niqabs in educational institutions, drawing strong criticism from representatives of the country’s Muslim community and analysts. They argue that the move is aimed at politics and the upcoming election rather than addressing a genuine problem.

The proposal to ban face coverings in schools was announced at a gathering of Ms. Meloni’s Brothers of Italy (FdI) party. Ms. Meloni described the measure as an effort to promote “women’s equality and security”, saying that no young woman in Italy should be forced to hide her identity in the name of any tradition or religion.

However, according to Al Jazeera, the imam of Milan’s Al-Wahid Mosque and Islamic scholars argue that the measure is an attempt to create a “false problem”.

Yahya Pallavicini, imam of the Al-Wahid Mosque in Milan, said, “This targets the practices of a small section of society to create a misconception about the Muslim community as a whole. It is an attempt to promote a white supremacist perspective.”

Mulayka Laura Enriello, a mathematics teacher at a high school in Milan, said she had never seen a student wearing a burqa or niqab at school during her long teaching career.

“This is not a real problem. Girls who wear the hijab wear it naturally, nobody bothers them,” she said. Only around 500 to 600 female students across Italy attend school with their faces fully covered.

A Strategy to Deepen Political Polarisation?

Analysts say the measure may be linked to the 2027 general election, with Ms. Meloni seeking to retain right-wing voters. The government has recently taken a tougher position on security and migration issues as support grows for the far-right National Future (FN), led by former general Roberto Vannacci.

Lorenzo Castellani, a historian and political expert at LUISS University, said Ms. Meloni was primarily seeking to send a message to conservative voters.

“Ms. Meloni is bringing issues centred on Islam and national identity to the forefront of politics in an effort to counter far-right competitors,” he said.

Italy’s legal framework provides protections for religious freedom while also addressing public security. Legal experts believe the school face-covering ban could face scrutiny in Parliament and the courts. The government’s decree-law can take effect immediately but must receive parliamentary approval within 60 days.