Austria bans headscarves in schools for girls under 14

# Austria bans headscarves in schools for girls under 14

*Event date: 2025-12-11*

Austria has passed a law banning headscarves in schools for girls under 14, according to BBC News. The measure applies to public and private schools and is backed by the conservative-led coalition of the ÖVP, the SPÖ and the Neos, which says it is intended to promote gender equality and protect young girls.

The law is politically sensitive because Austria’s Constitutional Court struck down a similar ban in 2020 after finding it specifically targeted Muslims. The new legislation was drafted to avoid that constitutional flaw, but critics still say it is discriminatory and may not survive judicial review. The official Islamic Community in Austria, the IGGÖ, has said it violates fundamental rights and will stigmatise and marginalise Muslim girls.

The BBC reported that the ban covers “traditional Muslim” head coverings such as hijabs and burkas. If a student breaks the rule, schools must hold discussions with the child and their legal guardians. Repeated violations trigger notification of the child and youth welfare agency, and fines of up to €800 can be imposed as a last resort. That enforcement structure shows the law is not just symbolic; it sets out a staged process for schools and families.

The government’s supporters have argued that the ban is about freedom rather than religion. Neos parliamentary leader Yannick Shetty said it was not a measure against a religion, but a step to protect the freedom of girls in Austria. He also said the law would affect about 12,000 children. The government’s framing is that the state is intervening to shield girls from pressure and social expectations, though opponents say that logic still leads to exclusion.

The opposition has lined up against the measure from different directions. The far-right Freedom Party, which voted in favour, said the law did not go far enough and called for a broader ban on headscarves in schools for pupils and staff. The Greens, by contrast, called the law clearly unconstitutional. That split is important because it shows the issue is not simply left versus right, but also about how far the state should go in regulating religious dress in education.

The BBC noted that the government has tried to write the law carefully in response to the court’s 2020 ruling, and Shetty acknowledged the legal risk by saying he did not know whether it would pass muster with the Constitutional Court. A trial awareness period will begin in February 2026, with the ban due to take full effect the following September at the start of the new school year.

That timetable matters because it means the debate is not over. Even after parliamentary approval, the law still faces constitutional and social tests. If the court upholds it, Austria will become one of the few European states to impose a school-specific headscarf ban for young girls. If it does not, the political fight over religious dress in classrooms will return yet again.

For now, the decision reflects a wider European argument over integration, gender equality and religious freedom. Austria has chosen to press ahead with a legal ban despite a previous defeat in court and strong criticism from Muslim representatives. The next battle will likely be fought in the constitutional system, not the parliament chamber.