by InTrieste
The Regional Council of Friuli Venezia Giulia has approved a bill that would effectively ban the wearing of full-face veils in public spaces, sending the measure to the Italian Parliament for consideration. The legislation, backed by the center-right majority, removes an exemption from a 1975 law that allows face coverings for religious reasons.
The bill, introduced by Antonio Calligaris of the League party, seeks to amend the Reale Law, which mandates that individuals remain identifiable in public. Under current interpretations, religious expression has been considered a valid justification for face coverings. If passed at the national level, the new measure would impose penalties of one to two years in prison and fines ranging from €5,000 to €10,000 for those who violate the law.
Supporters of the bill argue that it aligns with policies in other European countries and aims to protect Muslim women from coercion. “This is about ensuring that women are not forced to wear the full-face veil against their will,” members of the majority coalition stated. League MEP Anna Cisint, a supporter of the ban, attended the session.
The center-left opposition strongly opposed the bill, describing it as a political maneuver ahead of local elections in Monfalcone. Critics also raised concerns that the measure could lead to the exclusion of Muslim women from public life. Most opposition lawmakers walked out of the session in protest, with the exception of two left-wing representatives, Serena Pellegrino and Furio Honsell, who remained and voted against the proposal.
Later in the day, the regional council also rejected a motion to introduce gender-inclusive language in official communications. The center-left argued that the initiative would have been a step toward greater recognition of women’s roles in society. However, regional president Massimiliano Fedriga dismissed the proposal, stating that policy actions were more important than symbolic language changes.
The proposed veil ban now moves to the Italian Parliament, where it will be considered alongside other efforts to revise the 1975 Reale Law.
