Austria Constitutional Court to rule on school headscarf ban

The Austrian Constitutional Court (VfGH) has announced it expects to rule on the constitutionality of a new school headscarf ban for girls under the age of 14 in the first half of 2027. The legislation, which took effect on September 1, faces challenges from religious groups and opposition parties who argue it violates freedom of religion and the principle of equality. While the law does not permit schools to expel students, it allows for administrative fines against parents ranging from €150 to €800 for repeated non-compliance.

Early reports from the first weeks of the school year indicate approximately 80 reported cases of non-compliance nationwide, with a higher concentration in Vienna. The Austrian Islamic Community has raised concerns, alleging that some students have faced pressure to remove headscarves or have been excluded from lessons, which they claim violates educational rights.

In addition to the headscarf ban, the VfGH is currently deliberating on several other high-stakes legal matters. These include a joint challenge by the Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the Green Party regarding the state’s ability to monitor encrypted messenger services like WhatsApp and Signal, as well as disputes over the use of public funds for government officials' social media accounts and access to medically assisted reproduction.