Austria to Ban Hijab for Muslim Students Under Age 14

Austria’s government has formally agreed to introduce a headscarf ban for girls under fourteen in public and private schools, set to take effect in the autumn. Claudia Plakolm, Minister for Integration, Family and EU Affairs, announced the policy after a Cabinet meeting. The draft law will prohibit any garment covering the head worn in the name of cultural expectation or religious obligation in preschool through eighth grade.

Under the proposed regulations, violations will be addressed with escalating measures. Initially, school administration will meet with the student and issue an information letter to parents. If non-compliance continues, the education directorate may intervene. In cases of continued violation, parents could face fines between €150 ($175) and €1,000 ($1,170) or substitute imprisonment of up to 14 days.

Plakolm has argued that the headscarf functions as a “symbol of oppression,” particularly for young girls during formative stages of personality and physical development. She said the state must ensure schools are safe spaces where choices are free and nothing hinders development.

Not everyone agrees. The Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGÖ) sharply criticized the plan, labeling it “symbolic politics at the expense of children and democracy.” They stopped short of rejecting dialogue but said constitutional concerns were ignored. Legal scholars have also raised issues. The Austrian Constitutional Court struck down a similar ban in 2020, ruling that a law targeting Muslim headscarves in schools was discriminatory and violated religious neutrality.

According to estimates, the law would affect approximately 9,000 to 12,000 girls in Vienna, the city with Austria’s largest Muslim population.

The government says accompanying measures will address concerns over empowerment and equality. These include involving parents, teachers, school psychologists, and members of the Islamic community. Constitutional experts remain skeptical about whether the new ban will survive judicial review.

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