Austria to ban headscarves for female students under 14

Austria will implement a ban on headscarves for female students under the age of 14 starting in September. The law, supported by several political parties, faces opposition from religious organizations, members of the Muslim community, and various civil society groups.

This measure follows a similar 2019 attempt that was overturned by the Constitutional Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) due to conflicts with the principle of state religious neutrality. Legal challenges are expected to resurface once the first penalties are issued.

The Ministry of Education, led by Christoph Wiederkehr, has issued guidelines for schools to manage violations. Teachers are instructed to intervene immediately if a violation is observed. If a student refuses to remove the headscarf, the matter is escalated to the school director and parents. Following a fifth violation, official proceedings may result in fines ranging from 150 to 800 euros. Additionally, teachers who fail to enforce the rules may face disciplinary action for dereliction of duty.