Austria Moves Toward Ban on Headscarves for Schoolgirls Under 14

Austria Moves Toward Ban on Headscarves for Schoolgirls Under 14
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Austria’s government is preparing to introduce legislation banning the wearing of headscarves by girls under the age of 14 in public, private, and Islamic schools, according to local media. The measure, expected to take effect this autumn, could affect around 12,000 Muslim girls in Vienna alone.

The Ministry for Family and Integration said early headscarf use “is not a marginal issue,” stressing that the law aims to establish a clear societal boundary. Parents who allow their daughters to attend school wearing the headscarf could face administrative fines ranging from several hundred to over a thousand euros for repeat violations. The government is expected to vote on the bill in September.

The plan comes amid heightened debate on headscarves and a broader political focus on “combating political Islam” ahead of elections. Human rights groups and Islamic associations criticized the proposal, warning it risks fueling discrimination and undermining religious freedom, while urging dialogue with Muslim communities.