Since 1 September, Austria has banned headscarves for female pupils under 14 at state and private schools. Repeated breaches of the rule could lead to fines of €150 to €800 for parents.
Since the start of the 2026/27 school year on 1 September, female pupils in Austria under the age of 14 have been prohibited from wearing any headscarf at school that “covers the head in line with Islamic traditions.”
Teachers’ representatives say the new rule has generally been implemented calmly and respectfully. At the same time, some schools have reported conflicts and, in some cases, aggressive reactions.
The new law was already controversial before it came into force, with critics questioning whether it was compatible with freedom of religion and the principle of equality.
I am not un favor of the ban, but I also don’t know what works. I’m just saying the situation is fucked and religious indoctrination is fucked. Individual freedoms should be individual, freedom of people to wear hijab should be protected. Also freedom not to wear hijab should be protected, but seems to me there are people willing to violate freedoms on both sides of the lines.
I have pretty good idea what works, we have generations of data about it. Empowering women, giving them opportunities to live independently, giving them resources to escape abusive household. Same with men, children, and everyone else.
And we definitely, 100% know what doesn’t work. Adding more rules policing what women are allowed and not allowed to wear. This will, without any doubt, lead to more abuse. Some kids will have to live double lives, escaping abuse from home and abuse from cops that will no doubt use this opportunity to be cops about it. Some kids will not be allowed to go outside, which as you can imagine, will do wonders to their ability to actually live in society. Some kids will be shunned by families. Some kids will be harassed by police.
This shit has only one purpose, for racists to remove Muslim women from public existence. They don’t care what will happen to them as the result. Some of people who happy about this know what they’re doing, and it’s their plan. Some are just idiots who don’t care.