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Austria bans headscarves for girls under 14 in schools

9/7/2026

22 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Austria’s coalition banned headscarves for girls under 14 in schools.
The ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos approved it, citing gender equality.
Violations lead to meetings with parents and authorities and fines of €150-€800.
A mother and two daughters filed a Constitutional Court application on day one.
The Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGÖ) condemned the ban and announced legal support.

History

Historical Context

After President Jacques Chirac ordered the Stasi commission in Dec 2003, France’s lower house approved the ban on conspicuous religious symbols on 10 Feb 2004 (494-36-31 vote) and it took effect on 2 Sept 2004, affecting about 2 million pupils in roughly 5,000 schools. The European Court of Human Rights upheld the rule in 2009, a precedent Austria’s coalition now follows.

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Story summary

Austria’s coalition banned headscarves for girls under 14 in schools.
The ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos approved it, citing gender equality.
Violations lead to meetings with parents and authorities and fines of €150-€800.
A mother and two daughters filed a Constitutional Court application on day one.
The Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGÖ) condemned the ban and announced legal support.

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