Austria bans Islamic headscarves in schools for girls under 14

September 7, 2026 at 05:01 AM2 min

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Austria's ban on Islamic headscarves in schools for girls under 14 took effect as the new school year began. The law applies to public and private schools and carries fines up to €800 for repeated violations. The Islamic Community in Austria opposes the ban and will support legal challenges.

Key Facts

The law bans 'traditional Muslim' head coverings such as hijabs or burkas in public and private schools for girls under 14.
Repeated violations can lead to fines of up to €800 (£685) for guardians.
The Islamic Community in Austria (IGGÖ) said it will support legal challenges by affected families before the Constitutional Court.
The far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) is calling for a general prohibition on headscarves and face coverings for students and teachers alike.
France has banned conspicuous religious symbols, including headscarves, in schools for more than 20 years.

The Ban

The law forbids 'traditional Muslim' head coverings, such as hijabs or burkas, in public and private schools across Austria. Integration Minister Claudia Bauer of the conservative People's Party (ÖVP) called the headscarf 'a sign of oppression and a means of controlling girls from the earliest childhood'. The conservative-led coalition of the ÖVP, Social Democrats (SPÖ), and liberal Neos described the law as a 'clear commitment to gender equality'. Teachers are expected to enforce the ban by holding talks with students and guardians, and repeated violations may lead to notification of child services and fines up to €800.

Opposition and Criticism

Carla Amina Baghajati of the Islamic Community in Austria (IGGÖ) said the organisation 'firmly opposes the ban' and believes it 'unjustifiably restricts the fundamental right to freedom of religion'. The IGGÖ said it would support legal challenges by girls and their families who believe their fundamental rights are being infringed. Green Party politician Sigi Maurer accused Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr of 'creating new conflicts and offloading them onto the teachers'. The far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) said the ban does not go far enough and called for a general prohibition on headscarves and face coverings in schools.

Broader Context

Chancellor Christian Stocker of the ÖVP recently called for a constitutional ban on political Islam, telling ORF he did not 'want to live in an Islamic state'. France has banned conspicuous religious symbols, including headscarves, turbans, and kippas, in schools for more than 20 years.