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Austria’s Hijab Ban for Girls Under 14 Takes Effect in Schools

07 September 2026 22:09 PM

NEWS DESK

A ban on students under the age of 14 wearing the hijab at school in Austria takes effect for the first time on Monday, coinciding with the start of the new academic year in Vienna and several other parts of the country.

The measure has been condemned as discriminatory by Austria’s main Muslim organization and other groups, while the law is also expected to face a legal challenge.

The ban was proposed by Austria’s coalition government, made up of three centrist parties. The government says the measure is intended to protect girls’ freedom and rights.

The Austrian parliament passed the legislation in December with support from the right-wing Freedom Party. The left-wing Greens were the only parliamentary party to oppose the law.

The Islamic Religious Community in Austria, which officially represents the country’s Muslim population, has argued that the ban violates fundamental rights. The organization has said it plans to challenge the legislation before Austria’s Constitutional Court.

The court previously struck down a similar ban in 2020 that prohibited children under the age of 10 from wearing the hijab in schools. It ruled at the time that the measure discriminated against Muslims and that the state must remain religiously neutral. The court also said that any departure from this principle would require specific and sufficient justification.

Meanwhile, left-wing student organizations have called for demonstrations against the new legislation.

Austria’s new school year began on Monday in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland, three of the country’s nine states. Schools in the remaining states will begin the academic year next week.

Under the new law, if a student violates the ban by wearing a hijab, school authorities must first discuss the matter with the student. If the student continues to violate the rule, a fine ranging from €150 to €800 may

Austria Hijab Ban Girls