• Austrian parliament passes a ban on headscarves for girls under 14 in schools.
• Law is supported by the ruling coalition and aims to curb 'political Islam'.
• Critics, including rights groups, label it as discriminatory and Islamophobic.
• Approximately 12,000 girls may be affected by the legislation.
• The new ban follows a court ruling that struck down a similar law in 2020.

Austria's National Council approved a controversial law banning headscarves for girls under 14 in both public and private schools. The legislation received broad cross-party support and is scheduled to come into effect in February 2026, with potential fines of €150 to €800 for non-compliance. Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm described the headscarf as “a symbol of oppression,” insisting this measure aims to protect young girls, according to aa.

The government estimates that around 12,000 girls will be impacted by this ban, a statistic bolstered by educational officials claiming that the headscarf “sexualizes” young girls. This legislation aims to reinforce a vision of gender equality and religious neutrality, coming after a previous ban was ruled unconstitutional by the Austrian Constitutional Court in 2020 due to discrimination against Muslims, according to aljazeera and middleeasteye.

Rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, have condemned the new law, labeling it an expression of Islamophobia that contributes to a hostile climate for Muslims in Austria. Amnesty argues that this legislation could lead to further discrimination against Muslim girls and perpetuate existing stereotypes, according to aljazeera and middleeasteye.

The Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGOe) has announced plans to challenge the law in the Constitutional Court, emphasizing the protection of religious freedoms. “Children need protection, education, and enlightenment, not symbolic politics,” IGGOe president Umit Vural stated, indicating that the law may face significant legal hurdles, according to aljazeera and middleeasteye.