Italian Prime Minister (PM) Giorgia Meloni has announced plans to introduce new measures that would limit the number of foreign students in classrooms and ban burqas and niqabs in schools.
Speaking at a youth festival organised by her Brothers of Italy party in Rome on Sunday, Meloni said that the proposal would also make Italian language classes compulsory for parents of foreign students who face “serious difficulties integrating into the school system.”
“For us, anyone who comes to Italy and wants to build their future here must learn our language, understand our culture, and respect our rules,” she said to a standing ovation.
“It is the only serious way to welcome them.”
Meloni specifically referred to restrictions on the burqa, which covers the body and face and the niqab, which covers the face except for the eyes. She did not mention the hijab, which covers the hair but leaves the face visible.
The measure would require parliamentary approval within 60 days of being introduced by the government to become law.
Meloni has maintained a strict position on migration since taking office, while her political approach has shifted during her tenure from a nationalist position to a more established role among European Union leaders.
