Italian party launches campaign to ban headscarves in schools

Italian MEP Susanna Ceccardi, from the League party, has launched a campaign to ban headscarves in Italian schools, under the slogan “Bare Heads in Classrooms.”

Supported by the League’s branch in Tuscany, the campaign includes posters throughout Rome and a petition—both on the streets and online—to promote a new law prohibiting headscarves in educational institutions.

Ceccardi argues that the campaign aims to protect girls from what she describes as “oppression and gender discrimination,” linking these issues to wearing headscarves, claiming that removing headscarves would promote a freer and healthier development for girls.

However, activists and religious organizations argue that headscarves embody values of respect and modesty and align with religious teachings, viewing the ban as an infringement on religious freedom and a marginalization of certain communities.

Islamic studies professor Dr. Abdullah Fernandez emphasized that the headscarf is an integral part of Islamic identity, deserving respect within Italy’s diverse society. Calls are growing for a counter-campaign to promote religious inclusivity in schools, encouraging a respectful environment for all beliefs.