Austria’s ban on headscarves for girls under 14 takes effect as school year begins

As Austrian pupils returned to school, a new law prohibiting “traditional Muslim” head coverings — including hijabs and burkas — in public and private schools for girls under the age of 14 took effect.

Integration Minister Claudia Bauer, from the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP), described the headscarf as “a sign of oppression and a means of controlling girls from the earliest childhood.” The law was introduced by Austria’s centrist coalition government, comprising the ÖVP, the Social Democrats (SPÖ), and the liberal Neos, who frame it as “a clear commitment to gender equality” and a measure to protect the rights of young girls.

However, the policy has drawn sharp opposition. Carla Amina Baghajati, from the official Islamic Community in Austria (IGGÖ), told the BBC that the organisation “firmly opposes the ban.” She said it “unjustifiably restricts the fundamental right to freedom of religion and disproportionately affects Muslim girls,” adding that it “risks excluding the very children it claims to support” rather than protecting them.

The IGGÖ has said it will support legal challenges from girls and their families who wish to bring cases before Austria’s Constitutional Court. The court previously struck down a ban on headscarves in primary schools in 2020, ruling that it contravened the principle of religious neutrality.

Under the new law, teachers are expected to enforce the ban by holding discussions with students and their legal guardians if a child is seen wearing a headscarf, escalating in cases of repeated violations.

Why This Matters

The ban directly affects the daily lives and religious expression of young Muslim girls in Austria, potentially forcing them to choose between their faith and their education.
It reopens a contentious legal and political debate over religious freedom, gender equality, and the limits of state intervention in private religious practice.
The outcome of any legal challenges could set a precedent for similar policies in other European countries grappling with questions of secularism and integration.

Background

Austria has a history of legal battles over religious symbols in public institutions. In 2020, the Constitutional Court struck down an earlier ban on headscarves in primary schools, ruling that it violated the state’s obligation to religious neutrality. The new law, passed by the current conservative-led coalition, targets girls under 14 specifically, arguing they are too young to make an informed choice about wearing the hijab. Austria is home to a significant Muslim minority, and tensions over integration and religious freedom have been a recurring political theme.

Key Perspectives

Austrian Government (ÖVP-SPÖ-Neos coalition): Argues the ban protects young girls from what it sees as a symbol of oppression and promotes gender equality. Integration Minister Claudia Bauer has called the headscarf a tool for controlling girls from early childhood. Islamic Community in Austria (IGGÖ): Opposes the ban as an unjustified restriction on freedom of religion that disproportionately harms Muslim girls. The group plans to support legal challenges, arguing the law singles out a specific religious practice and risks excluding affected children. Critics/Skeptics: Human rights and religious freedom advocates warn the law may be unconstitutional, as the Constitutional Court struck down a similar ban in 2020. They argue the measure fuels anti-Muslim sentiment and could face legal defeat again.

What to Watch

Whether the Constitutional Court accepts any challenges and how it rules, given its 2020 precedent.
The number of reported enforcement incidents and any public protests or school-level pushback.
Political reactions from other European countries, particularly those with similar bans or debates (e.g., France, Denmark).

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