Since 1 September, Austria has banned headscarves for female pupils under 14 at state and private schools. Repeated breaches of the rule could lead to fines of €150 to €800 for parents.
Since the start of the 2026/27 school year on 1 September, female pupils in Austria under the age of 14 have been prohibited from wearing any headscarf at school that “covers the head in line with Islamic traditions.”
Teachers’ representatives say the new rule has generally been implemented calmly and respectfully. At the same time, some schools have reported conflicts and, in some cases, aggressive reactions.
The new law was already controversial before it came into force, with critics questioning whether it was compatible with freedom of religion and the principle of equality.
Do you seriously believe women getting murdered by religious zealots, or best case, only sentenced to lashes 74 hits because she didn’t hide her face, is morally equivalent to forbidding parents from forcing their child to participate in this practice?
If that’s what the law was, it probably wouldn’t be as much of a problem. But that’s not what the law specifies, though, is it?