Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia party has announced plans to ban the wearing of Islamic face coverings, the burqa and niqab, in public, Politico reports.
Andrea Delmastro, a lawmaker who co-sponsored the bill, wrote on Facebook on the 8th of October that religious freedom is sacred, but must be exercised in accordance with the Italian constitution and the fundamental principles of the state.
A burqa is a garment that covers the entire body and also covers the eyes with a net. A niqab, on the other hand, leaves the eye area uncovered. The ban would mean that such garments, which also cover the face, should not be worn in public places, including shops, schools and offices. Violators could face fines of between 300 and 3,000 euros.
The bill is part of a wider set of changes to the law
that Meloni’s right-wing party has described as a fight against cultural separatism linked to Islam. Sara Kelany, the party’s spokeswoman for immigration, told a news conference that the bill also affects the funding of mosques and emphasizes measures against forced marriages. “In Italy, we apply our laws which are based on a specific set of values,” Kelany added.
The changes will also impose higher penalties for forced marriages and will require religious groups not recognized by the state to disclose the source of any foreign funding. Delmastro said Italy was following the example of France, which was the first European country to ban the wearing of the burqa in public in 2011. Since then, several European and world countries have completely or partially banned the wearing of Islamic clothing in public.
Dalmastro added that he deeply believes that no foreign funding should threaten Italy’s sovereignty and European civilization.
Italy has a law in force since 1975 that prohibits being in public places with the face completely covered, but it does not specifically mention the burqa.
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