Austrian Muslim Organization Condemns Interior Minister’s Comments on Headscarf as ‘Disturbing’

Austrian Muslim Organization Condemns Interior Minister’s Comments on Headscarf as ‘Disturbing’
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The Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGO) sharply criticized Austrian Interior Minister Claudia Plakolm on Monday for her recent remarks describing the Islamic headscarf as a “sign of oppression,” Anadolu Agency reported.

In an official statement, IGGO expressed being “deeply disturbed” by Plakolm’s comments. On Sunday, Plakolm, a member of the ruling Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), posted an Instagram video saying, “The headscarf is a symbol of oppression. Girls are hidden behind headscarves during a critical phase of their personality and physical development, and extremist tendencies, especially among children, have no place in our schools.”

Plakolm’s remarks relate to a government bill aiming to ban headscarves in kindergartens and schools for girls under 14, with the law expected to be enacted in fall 2025.

Responding to this, IGGO stated that associating the headscarf—an expression of religious practice recognized by Austrian law—with “extremist tendencies” unsettles many young Muslim women and those who value religious freedom and equal treatment. The organization emphasized that denying girls the right to religious self-determination misses the essence of child protection.

IGGO also expressed willingness to engage in dialogue, inviting the minister to meet privately with Muslim educators, parents, and youth. They added that, “If the statement was misleading, a public clarification is urgently needed to foster respectful social dialogue.”