Austria bans the Islamic headscarf for girls under 14 in schools

Austria has banned girls under the age of 14 from wearing the Islamic veil in schools starting from the school year that began yesterday in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland, from the 14th in Upper Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg. The measure applies to both public and private institutions and concerns traditional Muslim head coverings, such as the hijab which covers the hair, ears, neck and shoulders. The Austrian government says the ban aims to protect girls, promote gender equality and prevent pressure on children, and says parents can no longer force their daughters to wear headscarves. The Minister of Integration, Claudia Bauer (OeVP), described the headscarf as a symbol of oppression and control exercised from an early age. In case of repeated violations, child protection services will be informed and parents or guardians will be sanctioned with fines between 150 and 800 euros. The Islamic Community of Austria (Iggo) criticizes the law and announces that it will support families who intend to challenge it before the Constitutional Court. The organization believes the measure disproportionately affects Muslim girls and limits religious freedom. In 2020, the court overturned a similar ban in primary schools, invoking the state's religious neutrality. The far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) is calling for tougher rules, including a general ban on veils and face-covering clothing in schools. Austria already bans wearing the niqab and burqa in public spaces.