Austria’s New Headscarf Ban Sparks Complaints Over Students Excluded From Classes

Austria’s New Headscarf Ban Sparks Complaints Over Students Excluded From Classes
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The Islamic Religious Authority in Austria said it had received complaints from families whose daughters were allegedly prevented from returning to class or pressured to remove their headscarves. The authority argues that excluding students from lessons is not among the measures authorized under the new law.

The ban, which took effect at the beginning of the 2026–27 school year, prohibits girls under 14 from wearing head coverings associated with Islamic traditions in public and private schools. Enforcement is intended to begin with dialogue involving the student and parents, followed by referrals to education authorities for repeated violations. Fines can range from €150 to €800.

Official guidance reportedly prohibits forcibly removing a student’s headscarf. The Islamic Authority has also called for cases involving proven parental coercion to be addressed through child-protection and social-support mechanisms rather than treating all veiled students as victims of coercion.

The dispute comes amid an ongoing constitutional challenge. Austria’s Constitutional Court struck down an earlier primary-school headscarf ban in 2020, while a later challenge to the current law was rejected before its implementation on procedural grounds. A new appeal has since been filed.

In Vienna, 55 cases were reportedly referred to education authorities within the first two weeks of implementation after students continued wearing headscarves following initial discussions with their parents.

The Islamic Community in Austria has warned that excluding girls from classes could contribute to stigmatization and tensions between schools and families. The Austrian government and supporters of the law maintain that it is intended to protect girls from social or religious pressure and strengthen their autonomy.