Austria’s government has approved a draft law to ban Islamic headscarves for girls up to the age of 14, with the measure scheduled to come into force in schools from the 2026 academic year. The Council of Ministers signed off on the proposal on Wednesday, ahead of a parliamentary vote expected in December.
The ban will apply to all forms of Islamic head coverings—including the hijab and the burqa—across the entire school premises, including lessons, breaks, and sports activities. Schools would be required to hold meetings with pupils and parents after repeated violations, with further cases reported to child and youth welfare services. Parents could face fines of €150 to €800 or up to two weeks in prison in severe cases.
Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm defended the move, saying:
A headscarf on an eleven-year-old girl is a symbol of oppression, and it will remain so.
She said the situation had changed since 2019, when a similar ban, later overturned by the Constitutional Court, was introduced. At that time, approximately 3,000 Muslim girls were affected; today, the number is around 12,000.
She also pointed out that in 2019, the pressure on girls to wear a headscarf primarily came from their own families, especially from fathers or brothers. Today, however, radical Islamic influencers and supposed role models on social media exert considerable influence.
“Young boys in particular feel called upon to act as moral guardians,” she said.
The Islamic Religious Community criticized the proposal, accusing the government of seeking political advantage and fuelling anti-Islam sentiment.
However, all parties across the political spectrum have now acknowledged the social problem, and the legislation is expected to pass when it reaches the National Council in December.
One Response
Why is it that in a country full of immigrants the only ones that won’t assimilate are Muslim. Makes one wonder why they came. If not to assimilate in their new country, what other possible reason could there be. I know, they want what we have worked so hard for. And they feel like we owe them. They even bring their own laws. In a free Civilization like ours that should not be tolerated. They are not welcome here if they won’t adopt our laws and our way of life. We should demand they leave, go back to their own country. There they can create their own Civilization just like we did.