In brief
In the opening week of the new school year, Austria’s government has put into force a law that bans traditional Muslim head coverings—such as hijabs and burkas—in both public and private schools for girls aged under 14. The legislation, backed by the country’s conservative‑led coalition, argues the headscarf is a symbol of oppression and a tool to control girls from a young age, while critics warn that the move fuels anti‑Muslim sentiment and may violate constitutional guarantees of religious neutrality. Teachers are now expected to enforce the ban by discussing the issue with students and parents and, if violations recur, referring cases to child services, which could lead to fines for guardians. The ban follows a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that struck down a prior restriction on headscarves in primary schools, underscoring the ongoing tension between national policy and individual rights across Europe.
In the first week of the 2026 school year, Austria’s law banning traditional Muslim head coverings in schools for girls under 14 has taken effect. The ban covers both public and private institutions across the country, prohibiting hijabs, burkas and other “traditional Muslim” headscarves.
Integration Minister Claudia Bauer, representing Austria’s conservative People’s Party (ÖVP), said the headscarf is a “sign of oppression and a means of controlling girls from the earliest childhood.”
Critics argue the new law fuels anti‑Muslim sentiment and could be unconstitutional, citing a 2020 Constitutional Court ruling that found a previous headscarf ban violated the country’s principle of religious neutrality.
The legislation was passed by the ÖVP, the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the liberal Neos parties, who claim it represents a clear commitment to gender equality and states the intention is to protect the rights of young girls.
The Islamic Community in Austria (IGGÖ) has publicly opposed the ban, stating it unjustifiably restricts freedom of religion and disproportionately impacts Muslim girls. IGGÖ will support legal challenges from affected families and aims to bring cases before the Constitutional Court.
Teachers are instructed to enforce the ban by holding discussions with students and their guardians; repeated violations may involve child services and could lead to fines of up to €800 (£685) for guardians.
Some teachers have voiced concerns about the burden of enforcement, with the Green Party’s Sigi Maurer criticizing Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr for adding “police‑like” duties to teachers. The far‑right Freedom Party (FPÖ) calls the ban insufficient, advocating a broader prohibition on all head coverings in schools for students and teachers.
Germany, France, Belgium and Denmark also ban face coverings in schools, but the Austrian law specifically targets Muslim head coverings. The IGGÖ warns of a trend in Europe where complex social challenges are reduced to symbolic measures aimed at minority groups, which rarely solve underlying problems.
