Austria

Austria's School Headscarf Ban Takes Effect for Under-14s

Is this a win for gender equality or discrimination?

Published SEP 7

Austria's School Headscarf Ban Takes Effect for Under-14s

Story

Above: Demonstrators attend a protest against the headscarf ban in schools, in Vienna, Austria on Feb. 13. Image credit: Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

Austria began enforcing a law Monday barring girls under 14 from wearing headscarves in public and private schools, as the school year opened in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland. Schools in the remaining states reopen next week.
Reuters
The New Arab
The Courier
The measure covers head coverings that conceal the hair "according to Islamic tradition," including hijabs and burkas. It does not apply to educational activities or events held away from school grounds.
BBC News
JFeed
Schools must first hold a discussion with a pupil who defies the ban and with her parents or legal guardians. Repeated breaches trigger an administrative process, and guardians can ultimately face fines of 150 to 800 euros ($174 to $929).
The Courier
The Economic Times
The Islamic Community in Austria says the ban unjustifiably limits freedom of religion and disproportionately affects Muslim girls. It has pledged to support families taking cases to the Constitutional Court, which rejected challenges in July.
BBC News
Daily Sabah
Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr stated that "you can never be completely certain" the law will survive review. Austria's Constitutional Court struck down a ban for under-10s in 2020 as discriminatory against Muslims.
The New Arab
Global Banking and Finance
Parliament approved the measure in December by a large majority, backed by the governing People's Party, Social Democrats and Neos plus the opposition Freedom Party. The Greens alone opposed it, calling the provisions unconstitutional.
The Guardian
Al Jazeera

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Banning headscarves for girls under 14 is exactly what a country committed to gender equality should do. France drew this line 20 years ago and Austria was right to finally draw it too.

NewsForce on X

Gunther Fehlinger-Jahn on X

Narrative B

A law that names one religion's clothing is discrimination. Society should rally around members of the Islamic faith who wear the headscarf as a sign of religious expression.