Italy’s ruling Brothers of Italy party has proposed legislation that seeks to ban the burqa and niqab in public spaces as part of a broader effort against what it calls “cultural separatism” linked to Islam. The law would prohibit face-covering garments in public areas including schools, universities, shops, and offices, with fines ranging from 300 to 3,000 euros for violations. Officials argue that the measure is intended to combat “religious radicalisation and religiously-motivated hatred.”
France was the first European country to implement a public burqa ban in 2011, and over 20 countries worldwide now have similar restrictions. The European Court of Human Rights has upheld such bans, and certain Italian regions, like Lombardy, already enforce their own face-covering regulations.
In addition to the clothing restrictions, the proposed law would require religious organizations that do not have formal agreements with the Italian state to disclose all their funding sources, a provision that would affect Muslim organizations, as none currently have such agreements. The bill also aims to strengthen penalties for forced marriages and introduces new criminal provisions against practices such as virginity testing.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s coalition partner, the League, had previously proposed a narrower ban earlier this year. With the coalition holding a strong parliamentary majority, the legislation is likely to receive support, although no formal schedule has been set for parliamentary deba
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