India, Oct. 9 -- Italy's ruling Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia) party on Wednesday introduced legislation seeking to ban the burqa and niqab in all public spaces, as part of a broader effort to combat what it described as "cultural separatism" linked to Islam.

The bill, presented to parliament by lawmakers from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's party, would prohibit garments covering the face in public areas, including schools, offices, universities, shops, and government buildings.

The burqa is a full-body covering that includes a mesh screen over the eyes, while the niqab leaves the eyes visible but conceals the rest of the face.

The European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly upheld such bans, citing the need to protect "livin...