Austrian Teachers’ Union Calls for Removing Religion from Schools, Says Headscarf Ban “Not Enough”

Austrian Teachers’ Union Calls for Removing Religion from Schools, Says Headscarf Ban “Not Enough”
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Remarks by Thomas Bulant, head of the Socialist Teachers’ Association in Austria, have sparked debate after he said a planned ban on headscarves for girls under 14 in schools will not sufficiently address religious issues in education.

Speaking to the Austrian Press Agency, Bulant said that while he supports the ban in principle, its implementation may be difficult and could place Muslim girls and their families under legal pressure due to fines of up to €800 for violations.

He argued that religion should remain a private matter and called for a broader discussion on removing religious practices and symbols from schools. Bulant also warned that teachers would be responsible for enforcing the rule, which could create tensions in classrooms.

He added that the current law may face legal challenges, noting that the Constitutional Court of Austria previously struck down a similar measure in 2020 for discrimination. Bulant also criticized unclear policies by the Austrian Ministry of Education regarding religious matters, including leave for holidays such as Orthodox Christmas and Eid al-Adha.