Austria Imposes Ban on Headscarves for Girls Under 14 in Schools

Fri Dec 12 2025 18:42:54 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a controversial move, Austria has enacted a law that prohibits girls under the age of 14 from wearing headscarves in schools, citing a commitment to gender equality amid criticism of potential discrimination.

Austria has officially banned the wearing of headscarves in schools for girls below the age of 14. The government claims this law embraces gender equality but faced backlash for fostering anti-Muslim sentiment and raising concerns about its constitutionality. A previous similar ban was overturned by the Constitutional Court, leading critics to argue that this new regulation may also violate rights and amplify societal division.

Austria has passed a law banning headscarves in schools for girls under the age of 14.

The conservative-led coalition of three centrist parties, the ÖVP, the SPÖ, and the Neos, says the law is a clear commitment to gender equality, but critics claim it will fuel anti-Muslim sentiment in the country and could be unconstitutional.

The measure will apply to girls in both public and private schools.

In 2020, a similar headscarf ban for girls under 10 was struck down by the Constitutional Court, which highlighted that it specifically targeted Muslims.

The terms of the new law prohibit girls under 14 from wearing traditional Muslim head coverings such as hijabs or burkas.

If a student violates the ban, discussions with school authorities and their legal guardians will be required, and repeated violations could involve notifying the child and youth welfare agency. Ultimately, families or guardians may face fines of up to €800 (£700).

Members of the government argue this is about empowering young girls, emphasizing the intention to protect them from oppression. The parliamentary leader of the liberal Neos party, Yannick Shetty, stated it wasn't a measure against a religion but a step towards safeguarding the freedom of girls in Austria, potentially affecting around 12,000 children.

The opposition, including the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), has argued that the ban doesn't go far enough, calling for a broader prohibition encompassing all pupils and staff, with sentiments suggesting that political Islam has no place here.

Meanwhile, criticisms from the Greens decried the law as clearly unconstitutional, while the official Islamic Community in Austria (IGGÖ) argued that the ban infringes fundamental rights and risks marginalizing children instead of empowering them.

The discussion around the law's constitutionality is ongoing, with an awareness-raising trial set to begin in February 2026, leading to full enforcement in September 2026.