Italy’s ruling party proposes ban on burqas, niqabs, and foreign mosque funding

Italy’s ruling party, Brothers of Italy (FdI), has announced plans to draft a bill aimed at banning face and body coverings such as the burqa and niqab in all public spaces across the country, describing it as a measure against “Islamic separatism.”

“Freedom of religion is sacred, but it must be practiced openly, with full respect for our constitution and the principles of the Italian state,” Andrea Delmastro, one of the lawmakers drafting the bill, said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

The ban would prohibit wearing face-covering garments in all public spaces, including shops, schools, and offices. Violators would face fines ranging from €300 to €3,000.

The proposal is part of a broader bill aimed at addressing what Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing party describes as “cultural separatism” associated with Islam.

“This bill is essentially about regulating the financing of mosques and preventing and banning the use of the full-face veil,” Sara Kelany, the FdI’s head of immigration, said at a press conference on Wednesday. “It also emphasizes legislation against forced marriages. In Italy, we enforce our laws, which are based on a specific set of values.”

The proposed bill includes provisions to increase penalties for forced marriages and requires religious groups not officially recognized by the state to disclose foreign funding.

Delmastro said that Italy was inspired by France, the first European country to implement a burqa ban in 2011. Since then, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, and many other countries in Europe and around the world have introduced full or partial bans on Islamic women’s clothing.