Austria's Islamic headscarf ban in force as under-14s go back to school

What the report says

Austria has begun enforcing a new law that bars headscarves in schools for girls under 14, coinciding with the start of the school year. According to BBC World News, the measure applies to public and private schools and targets “traditional Muslim” head coverings such as hijabs, while already-existing bans on full face veils remain in place in public settings.

The conservative-led coalition backing the law says it is meant to protect girls and promote gender equality. Integration Minister Claudia Bauer has described the headscarf as a symbol of control over young girls. Critics, including Austria’s official Islamic Community, argue that the policy unfairly singles out Muslim students, may be unconstitutional, and could deepen anti-Muslim sentiment.

BBC World News reported that the Islamic Community plans to support legal challenges from affected families. The group points to a 2020 Constitutional Court ruling that struck down an earlier school headscarf ban. Under the new rules, teachers are expected to raise concerns with students and guardians first; repeated breaches can lead to child services being contacted and, in some cases, fines for guardians.

The issue has also stirred political debate. Some Greens politicians say the policy shifts enforcement burdens onto teachers, while the far-right Freedom Party wants a broader ban. The dispute reflects wider European arguments over religious symbols, school rules and the line between secularism and religious freedom.