Austria's Islamic headscarf ban in force as under-14s go back to school - BBC News

The government says the law is intended to protect the rights of young girls, but critics say it is fuelling anti-Muslim feeling.

Image source, Getty ImagesByBethany BellVienna correspondentPublished7 September 2026, 01:01 BSTAs the new school year begins in Austria, a law banning headscarves in schools for girls under 14 has gone into force.

The law forbids "traditional Muslim" head coverings, such as hijabs or burkas, in public and private schools across the country.

Integration Minister Claudia Bauer, from the conservative People's Party (ÖVP), says the headscarf is "a sign of oppression and a means of controlling girls from the earliest childhood".

But critics say the new law is fuelling anti-Muslim feeling in the country and could be unconstitutional.

The law was brought in by the conservative-led coalition of three centrist parties, the ÖVP, the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the liberal Neos. They say the law is a "clear commitment to gender equality" and is intended to protect the rights of young girls.