The Austrian state of Tyrol is poised to adopt a ban on headscarves for girls under the age of 14 in public spaces, joining a growing push across the country to restrict Islamic symbols for minors. The regional parliament is expected to approve the measure on Wednesday.
The proposal, introduced by the national conservative Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), mirrors a similar law passed earlier this year in the neighboring region of Lower Austria. That legislation was part of an “Action Plan for Radical Islam,” a broader effort aimed at countering what officials describe as Islamist influence in schools and public life.
“The action plan is a protective shield for our children, women, and families who want to live in freedom, security, and peace without Islamist influence,” said Udo Landbauer, Deputy Governor of Lower Austria and a leading figure in the FPÖ. “We don’t need an imported culture war in the classroom.”
Support for the ban in Tyrol has come from across the political spectrum. Sebastian Kolland, a spokesperson for the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), called the move a “long overdue step against Islamist tendencies.” Philip Wohlgemuth, vice president of the Tyrolean branch of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), also backed the proposal, saying girls should “grow up free and carefree—without social pressure.”
The regional initiatives have increased pressure on Austria’s federal government to enact similar restrictions nationwide. Claudia Plakolm, Austria’s Minister for Europe, Integration and Family, signaled support for national action, urging the government to introduce a headscarf ban for minors under 14 “in a constitutionally compliant manner.”
