Vienna, December 14, 2025 : Austria’s lower house of parliament has overwhelmingly approved a controversial new law banning girls under the age of 14 from wearing headscarves—including hijabs and burqas—in all public and private schools, intensifying national and international debate over religious freedom, integration, and discrimination.
The legislation was passed with the backing of the ruling centrist coalition government, comprising the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), and liberal Neos. Supporters framed the move as a measure to promote gender equality and protect young girls from what they describe as “oppression” and “sexualization.”
Under the law, prohibited items are defined as head coverings worn “in accordance with Islamic traditions.” Austria’s Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP) argued that headscarves on minors symbolize patriarchal control and restrict girls’ freedom before they reach an age of independent decision-making. In Austria, individuals are legally allowed to choose their religion at 14 years old.
Neos parliamentary leader Yannick Shetty emphasized that the ban is not intended as an attack on religion, but rather as a safeguard to ensure that children are free from coercion until they are mature enough to decide for themselves.
The legislation also received support from the opposition far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ). FPÖ lawmaker Ricarda Berger called the ban a “first step” but said it does not go far enough, advocating for a total prohibition of headscarves in schools, including for older students and staff, to counter what she termed “political Islam.”
The Green Party was the only political group to oppose the bill. Green lawmaker Sigrid Maurer described the legislation as “clearly unconstitutional,” warning that it selectively targets one religious group and undermines Austria’s principles of equality and religious neutrality.
Human rights organizations and Muslim groups have strongly criticized the move. Amnesty International Austria, the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGÖ), and academic experts such as Georgetown University scholar Farid Hafez labeled the law discriminatory and Islamophobic. Critics estimate that around 12,000 Muslim girls could be affected and argue the ban risks stigmatizing and marginalizing minors rather than protecting them.
Opponents also point to Austria’s 2019–2020 headscarf ban for children under 10, which was later struck down by the Constitutional Court for violating equality and religious neutrality by disproportionately targeting Muslims.
Implementation of the new law will begin with an awareness phase in February 2026, involving consultations with schools and parents. Full enforcement is scheduled for September 2026, coinciding with the start of the new school year. Parents who violate the law could face fines ranging from €150 to €800, with higher penalties for repeat offenses, though authorities say initial violations will prioritize dialogue over punishment.
The IGGÖ has already announced plans to challenge the law’s constitutionality, arguing that it infringes on fundamental rights and freedom of religion. The decision comes amid intensifying debates in Austria over immigration, integration, secularism, and rising anti-immigration sentiment, placing the country once again at the center of Europe’s cultural and political fault lines.
