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.
Austria has implemented a law banning headscarves for girls under 14 in schools as the new academic year starts. The regulation, instituted by the conservative People's Party (ÖVP) along with the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the liberal Neos, aims to promote gender equality and protect young girls' rights. However, critics argue that the law is fostering anti-Muslim sentiments and may be unconstitutional.
Carla Amina Baghajati, representing the Islamic Community in Austria (IGGÖ), opposes the ban as it unjustifiably infringes upon the fundamental right to freedom of religion and disproportionately impacts Muslim girls. Instead of safeguarding children, the IGGÖ claims the ban singles out a particular religious practice and risks excluding the very children it targets for support.
The court previously invalidated a ban on headscarves in primary schools in 2020, citing Austria's religious neutrality principle. Teachers are responsible for enforcing the new ban through discussions with students and their legal guardians. Repeated violations may result in child services intervention and potential fines for guardians.
Some teachers worry about the additional burden of enforcing the ban, which they consider an unnecessary police role. The Green Party's Sigi Maurer accused Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr of offloading conflict generation onto teachers. Meanwhile, the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) demands a complete ban on headscarves and face coverings in Austrian schools.
Austria's Chancellor Christian Stocker has advocated for a constitutional ban on political Islam, expressing his reluctance to live in an Islamic state. In comparison to France's 20-year ban on conspicuous religious symbols in schools, Austria's law specifically targets head coverings worn by Muslim women.
The IGGÖ expresses concern over a growing European trend of reducing complex social issues to symbolic measures aimed at minority groups. While such approaches may garner political attention, they often fail to address the underlying challenges.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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