VIENNA: As the new school year begins, Austria has begun its enforcement of the new law banning headscarves for girls under 14 years of age in school.
It will apply to all public and private schools and will include head coverings which “cover the head in accord with Islamic traditions. The government states the law is to ensure the freedom and independence of girls.
The law was passed by Austria’s parliament last December, with support from the far-right Freedom Party. This was opposed by the opposition Green Party.
According to the rules, teachers should first discuss a violation with the student. Eventually fines of up to €800 may be imposed if the rules are not followed.
It has garnered strong criticism from the Islamic Religious Community in Austria, which holds that Muslims represent the Islamic Community. The organisation claims that the law infringes fundamental rights, and has threatened to take legal action against the law.
Before the legislation was in force, Austria’s courts had already given a consideration to challenges to the legislation. In July the petitions were rejected, and the courts at the time commented that the law was still not in effect.
The new restrictions are in addition to an earlier Austrian law which applies to girls under the age of 10. In 2020, Austria’s Constitutional Court overturned that policy, finding it to be a form of discrimination against Muslims and that the state needed to be neutral in religious issues.
As it is put into practice in schools throughout Austria, this current ban is likely to be challenged again in court.
