Austria’s controversial headscarf ban takes effect as schools reopen

Austria’s controversial ban on headscarves for girls under the age of 14 is facing its first major test as schools reopen on September 7, with the country’s main Muslim organisation condemning the measure as discriminatory and preparing a legal challenge, Reuters reports.

The ban was proposed by Austria’s ruling coalition of three centrist parties, which argued that the measure was intended to protect girls’ freedom. Parliament approved the legislation in December with the backing of the far-right Freedom Party, while the left-wing Greens were the only parliamentary group to oppose it.

The Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGO), which officially represents the country’s Muslim community, has described the ban as an infringement of fundamental rights and said it would challenge the legislation before the Constitutional Court.

The court rejected earlier challenges in July on the grounds that the new law had not yet entered into force. In 2020, however, it ruled that a previous headscarf ban covering girls under 10 was unlawful because it discriminated against Muslims and violated the state’s obligation to remain religiously neutral.

Asked by local media whether the court could overturn the new ban, Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr said: “You can never be completely certain.”

“We in the government carried out very intensive consultations and we in the education ministry tried very hard to write a law that complies with the constitution,” Wiederkehr said.

Left-wing student organisations have called for protests against the measure.

The new school year begins on September 7 in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland, while schools in the remaining six states will reopen next week.

Under the legislation, schools must first hold discussions with pupils who violate the ban. Continued non-compliance can result in fines ranging from €150 to €800 ($175-$930).

By Vafa Guliyeva