Austria’s new law banning headscarves for girls under 14 in schools officially took effect as the academic year began on Monday. The legislation prohibits hijabs, burkas, and other traditional Muslim head coverings in public and private schools across the country.
Teachers will enforce the ban through a staged process, starting with discussions with students and their guardians. Repeated violations could lead to notifications to child services and, as a last resort, fines of up to €800 for guardians.
The law was passed by Austria’s ruling coalition of three centrist parties—the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP), the Social Democrats (SPÖ), and the liberal Neos—who argue it is a commitment to gender equality and protection of young girls. Integration Minister Claudia Bauer (ÖVP) described the headscarf as “a sign of oppression and a means of controlling girls from the earliest childhood.”
Opponents, including the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGÖ), have denounced the ban as discriminatory and plan to challenge it in the Constitutional Court. Carla Amina Baghajati of the IGGÖ stated the organization “firmly opposes the ban,” arguing it “unjustifiably restricts the fundamental right to freedom of religion” and “disproportionately affects Muslim girls.”
The ban comes after Austria’s Constitutional Court struck down a previous headscarf ban for under-10s in 2020, ruling it violated the principle of religious neutrality. Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr (Neos) acknowledged uncertainty over the new law’s constitutionality, stating the government had conducted “very intensive consultations” to ensure compliance with constitutional standards.
Legal experts note the court’s past ruling requires “special justification” for restrictions on religious practices in schools. Critics also warn the law could fuel anti-Muslim sentiment, while supporters maintain it upholds gender equality and child protection. The IGGÖ has pledged to support legal challenges from affected families, signaling potential prolonged legal battles ahead.