December 16, 2025
Web desk
Austria’s lower house of parliament has approved a new law banning Muslim headscarves for girls under the age of 14 in all schools. The legislation was passed by a large majority after an earlier ban was struck down by the Constitutional Court for being discriminatory.
Under the new law, headscarves that “cover the head in accordance with Islamic traditions” will not be allowed for minors, and families who do not comply may face fines ranging from 150 to 800 euros. The government says it has revised the law to ensure it withstands legal challenges.
The bill was proposed by the ruling centrist coalition amid growing anti-immigration sentiment and was supported by the far-right Freedom Party. The Greens were the only party to oppose the move. Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm described headscarves for minors as “a symbol of oppression,” while critics, including Amnesty International, warned the ban would worsen discrimination against Muslims.
