Austria’s new law banning headscarves in schools for girls under 14 comes into force as the school year begins. The measure applies to the youngest students returning to classrooms in Vienna and across other states, where schools reopen at the start of term.
Supporters in Austria’s ruling coalition of three centrist parties say the ban is intended to protect the rights of young girls. Critics, including the country’s main Muslim organisation, denounce the rules as discriminatory and argue they may increase anti-Muslim sentiment. Multiple outlets report that legal challenges are likely, and that the start of term provides the first practical test of how the policy will be applied in schools.
Coverage also emphasizes that the issue is quickly drawing attention beyond implementation details, with public debate centring on whether the restriction is justified as youth protection or instead interferes with religious expression.
