Italy’s ruling party, the Brothers of Italy, has called for a ban on Muslim clothing that obstructs facial recognition in public places, according to a statement released by the party on Wednesday. Violations of the ban could result in fines of up to €3,000, local media outlets have reported, citing the draft proposal. The proposed measure seeks to protect Italian identity, citizen security, and women’s freedom, as stated by the party, arguing that the measure would not curtail religious liberty but prevent its misuse to justify practices contrary to the constitution and social norms.
The draft proposal includes stricter rules on financial transparency in places of worship, making it easier to trace foreign funding. It also calls for banning so-called virginity tests and harsher penalties for forced marriages, practices the party says violate human dignity. The measure would extend the ban to schools, universities, offices, and commercial venues, and provide ‘concrete tools to stop the spread of fundamentalist practices and opaque financing that threaten security and social cohesion,’ according to the party’s MP Galeazzo Bignami.
Italy already has a law, dating from 1975, that prohibits garments fully covering the face in public spaces, primarily targeting helmets or masks used for concealment rather than religious garb. The proposed ban would expand this to include full-face veils, drawing comparisons to France, which became the first European country to fully ban the niqab in public places in 2011, introducing penalties such as fines or community service. Other countries such as Belgium, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Switzerland have also implemented similar measures, though the United Nations has warned that these bans could restrict religious freedom and risk further marginalizing women by limiting their participation in public life.
The proposed measure has sparked debate over the balance between national identity and religious freedom. Critics argue that the ban could disproportionately affect Muslim women and infringe on their right to practice their faith. Supporters, however, maintain that the measure is necessary to protect public safety and uphold the values of the Italian state. The implementation of the ban remains pending, with potential legal and political challenges ahead.