Italy Proposes Nationwide Ban on Burqas and Niqabs with Fines Up to €3,000

What the Bill Proposes

• The draft law prohibits face-covering garments, specifically burqas and niqabs, in all public spaces including schools, universities, shops, offices, and public transport across Italy.

• Violators would face fines ranging from €300 to €3,000, with potential prison sentences of up to two years for repeated offenses or wearing such garments during public demonstrations.

• The legislation extends beyond face coverings to require financial transparency for Muslim organizations, mandating disclosure of all funding sources and restricting financing from entities deemed a security threat.

• The bill increases penalties for forced marriages to 4-10 years imprisonment when religious coercion is involved, and criminalizes "virginity testing" as part of broader "cultural crimes" reform.

Political Context and Justification

• Brothers of Italy lawmakers, including Andrea Delmastro and Sara Kelany, described the bill as necessary to defend national identity and prevent "parallel societies," framing it as protection of Italian constitutional values.

• The proposed law is part of a wider push by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government to counter what it calls "cultural separatism" and "religious radicalization" linked to Islamic practices.

• Italy already has a 1975 law banning face coverings in public for security reasons, but it does not explicitly mention religious garments; some northern regions like Lombardy imposed similar restrictions in 2015-2016.

Opposition and Criticism

• Yassine Lafram, president of the Union of Islamic Communities of Italy, stated that "freedom of choice is a fundamental principle in a democratic society," warning the law could increase alienation and fuel social tensions.

• Muslim advocacy groups and human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, condemned the bill as discriminatory, arguing it infringes on religious freedom and disproportionately targets Muslim women.

• Critics note that burqas and niqabs are rarely worn in Italy's estimated 1.5-3 million Muslim population, making the ban more symbolic than practical.

International Context and Status

• Over 20 countries have implemented similar bans, including France (2011), Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, and Austria, with the European Court of Human Rights consistently upholding such restrictions to protect "social cohesion."

• The bill is currently in draft form and requires parliamentary approval; given the Brothers of Italy coalition's strong majority, passage is likely, though no immediate timetable has been set for debate.