Boldrini challenges Meloni's proposed school ban on full-face veils
During a La7 interview, Laura Boldrini rejected Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's plan to forbid burqa and niqab in schools, arguing the measures are unnecessary and politically motivated.
In a televised discussion on La7, Laura Boldrini opposed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's announcement of a school ban on the burqa and niqab, saying the garments are virtually absent in Italy and the proposal is largely symbolic. She explained that the niqab covers the face with a narrow eye slit, the burqa encloses the whole body and face, while the hijab only covers hair and neck, and that only the hijab is commonly observed in Italy.
Boldrini accused the decree of being a propaganda tool aimed at political rivals, noting that existing legislation from 1975 already addresses public order and permits exceptions for religious reasons. She argued that the real challenges facing schools lie elsewhere, such as limits on foreign student numbers and language requirements for parents. The discussion also mentioned a 2008 Consiglio di Stato ruling that allowed religious or cultural exemptions under the public order law, underscoring the need for a dedicated measure to impose any veil ban.
