Austria's Islamic headscarf ban in force as under-14s go back to school
The government says the law is intended to protect the rights of young girls, but critics say it is fuelling anti-Muslim feeling.
As Austria's new school year commences, a ban on Islamic headscarves for girls under 14 years old has officially come into effect. This legislation prohibits traditional Muslim head coverings like hijabs or burkas in both public and private schools throughout the nation. The law was introduced by Integration Minister Claudia Bauer, representing the conservative People's Party (ÖVP), who argues that the headscarf symbolizes oppression and controls girls from a young age.
However, critics claim the new regulation is inflaming anti-Muslim sentiments in the country and may be unconstitutional.
The law, enacted by a coalition of three centrist parties – the ÖVP, Social Democrats (SPÖ), and liberal Neos – aims to promote gender equality and safeguard the rights of young girls. The Islamic Community in Austria (IGGÖ), however, staunchly opposes the ban, asserting that it unlawfully infringes upon the fundamental right to freedom of religion and disproportionately impacts Muslim girls.
Instead of shielding children, the IGGÖ contends that the law single-mindedly targets a particular religious practice and risks excluding those it intends to protect. The organization is prepared to support legal challenges initiated by girls and their families who feel their rights are being violated and seek recourse in the Constitutional Court.
Upon witnessing a child violating the ban, teachers are obligated to engage in talks with the student and their legal guardians. Repeated infractions may lead to child services being notified, and in extreme cases, guardians may face fines of up to €800. Some educators have raised concerns about the additional responsibilities placed upon them, feeling that they are being burdened with police-like duties.
The Green Party's Sigi Maurer criticized Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr from the liberal NEOS for creating new conflicts and shifting them onto teachers.
The opposition far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) contends that the existing ban is insufficient, advocating for a comprehensive prohibition on headscarves and face coverings in schools for all students and teachers. FPÖ member Ricarda Berger emphasized Austria's stance against political Islam in its institutions. Chancellor Christian Sticker, the ÖVP leader, has previously called for a constitutional ban on political Islam, expressing his reluctance to live in an Islamic state.
France has maintained a ban on conspicuous religious symbols, including headscarves, turbans, and kippas, in schools for over two decades. Austria's approach differs from France's in that it specifically targets head coverings worn by Muslim women. Like several other European nations, Austria also bans the full face veil (niqabs or burkas) in public.
The IGGÖ worries about a growing trend across Europe where complex social issues are reduced to symbolic measures targeting minority groups, potentially generating political attention but failing to address the root causes.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
