Austria bans headscarves in schools for girls under 14

A law has come into force in Austria which prohibits the wearing of the headscarf in schools for girls under 14 years of age. The BBC reports it.

With the start of the new school year, teachers are required to enforce the new ban if they see a girl wearing a headscarf, through a series of interviews with the student and her legal guardians. In case of repeated violations, children's social services must be informed and, as a last resort, guardians could face fines of up to 800 euros.

The Minister for Integration, Claudia Bauer, of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), said that the veil is "a sign of oppression and a means of controlling girls from an early age". However, critics argue that the new law is fueling anti-Muslim sentiment in the country and may be unconstitutional.

Carla Amina Baghajati, of the Official Islamic Community in Austria (Iggo), said the organization "strongly opposes the ban. We believe it unjustifiably limits the fundamental right to freedom of religion and disproportionately affects Muslim girls," she said.

The law was introduced by the conservative-led government coalition made up of three centrist parties: the ÖVP, the Social Democrats (SPO) and the liberal Neos party. According to coalition representatives, the law represents a "clear commitment to gender equality" and aims to protect the rights of young girls.