Austria plans to ban hijab in schools

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International Desk:

Despite strong objections from human rights organizations and the Muslim community, Austria has passed a law banning hijabs for schoolgirls. The law prohibits girls under 14 from wearing the hijab in schools, raising concerns that it could further divide society.

According to The Guardian on Friday (12 December), the law is expected to marginalize the Muslim community even more. The legislation was passed earlier this year under Austria’s conservative-led government.

Ahead of Thursday’s vote, Yannick Shetty, parliamentary leader of the Liberal Neos party, said the law is not intended to limit freedom but to protect the freedom of girls under 14. He argued that the hijab is not just clothing—it shields underage girls from male attention.

The Guardian reported that the ban will take effect from the start of the new school year in September. Families who violate the law could face fines up to €800 per offense.

The Green Party was the only group to oppose the law, calling it unconstitutional. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have stated that the ban will not empower girls but will exacerbate the existing climate of discrimination against Muslims in Austria.

Angelika Atzinger of the women’s rights group Amazon said the law sends the wrong message to girls, denying them the right to make decisions about their own bodies.

This is the second hijab-ban initiative by the People’s Party-led government. Previously, in 2019, a ban on hijabs for girls under 10 was struck down by the Constitutional Court as discriminatory. While the government is attempting to avoid past mistakes, Shetty himself admitted that it is uncertain whether this new law will withstand judicial scrutiny.