On-The-Ground-Abroad
Integration or Exclusion - Italy’s Foreign Student Cap and School Ban on Burqas and Niqabs
In 2026, Italy’s foreign residency population reached 5.56 million people, with Muslims making up 30% of this population. Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, ahead of the general election, issued a decree placing a 30% cap on foreign students in primary school, as well as prohibiting burqas and niqabs in school settings. Her policy presents a central question: Do these policies truly support the integration of foreigners, or does it exacerbate the alienation of foreigners from society?
Beyond the Postcard: The Black Reality of Florence
After a year in Florence, I am reflecting on what it means to be Black in Italy—navigating culture and identity amid a lack of diversity.