The Austrian Parliament approved a law prohibiting girls under 14 from wearing headscarves in schools, a measure set to fully take effect in September 2026 after an initial explanatory phase beginning in February.The government defends the ban, which includes fines ranging from 150 to 800 € for repeated non-compliance, as a means to protect children and freedom, asserting it is not religiously discriminatory.Opponents, including human rights groups, the
Greens,
IGGÖ, and constitutional law expert
Heinz Mayer, condemn the law as unconstitutional and discriminatory, noting a previous 2019 ban was overturned by the
Constitutional Court.