this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2026
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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.

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[–] growsomethinggood@reddthat.com 80 points 2 months ago (6 children)

Every time I see a ban like this, I have to wonder how many families did the math and decided that their girls actually don't need an education outside the home, or their wife doesn't need a job or to go grocery shopping herself, and all of them will just have to rely on their male relatives their whole lives to take care of them. Policies that force people to dress outside of their cultural acceptability leads to isolation, not integration.

[–] iturnedintoanewt@lemmy.world 34 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Except, in Europe it's usually mandatory to take your kid to school until a certain age and home schooling is usually not an option.

[–] Zacryon@feddit.org 23 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I have quickly checked and unfortunately Austria does allow homeschooling. So the concern of isolation is sadly not entirely unjustified.

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[–] JustEnoughDucks@slrpnk.net 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

And guess what? This literally just happened last week in Flanders in Belgium.

Girls were rounded up and publically stripped in front of administrators.

Now they can't go to school but it is illegal to stay home, but the schools are also completely full so they aren't allowed to enroll I'm another school that doesn't publically strip them.

It's fucked. But of course, all other religions can wear whatever they want as long as they are not brown people.

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[–] LittleBorat3@lemmy.world 16 points 2 months ago (2 children)

It's illegal to not send your children to school so the cops can come and pick you up.

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[–] I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world 13 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Probably less than the number that decided enforcing an oppressive style of dress wasn't worth the hassle when faced with minimal societal pressure.

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[–] Zacryon@feddit.org 10 points 2 months ago

Good points you raise there. Therefore further measures are required to prevent said isolating consequences.

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[–] LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz 57 points 2 months ago (5 children)

The exact wording isn't clear, but if it really is just Islamic clothing, then it's a bad law.

If it were more generalized, such as "no one under 14 is allowed to follow religion enforced dress codes, such as..." Which also included dresses, skullcaps, head coverings of all kinds, etc. inside of a school, that would be a lot more reasonable.

But a law targeting one religion, and ignoring others, just reeks of bigotry.

[–] midribbon_action@lemmy.blahaj.zone 27 points 2 months ago (6 children)

Actually the law you described would suck ass as well.

[–] hanrahan@slrpnk.net 19 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I'd be for it, religious indoctrination and gas lighting kids is nothing but abuse. i'd raise the age to 18 though.

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[–] robear@lemmy.zip 8 points 2 months ago

You support the religious indoctrination of children?

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[–] FartMaster69@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Writing vagueness into your law just allows for selective enforcement.

Guess what groups would be targeted?

[–] qarbone@lemmy.world 21 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The same ones that are currently being targetted...?

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[–] theuniqueone@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 2 months ago

That law would also be terrible not to mention it would be like similar laws like French Laïcité be very discriminatory enforced to target minorities.

[–] Zacryon@feddit.org 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Sure. Although I would argue that hijabs are a bit more pronounced in terms of oppressive clothing than, let's say a simple dress.

Therefore I count this as a win in my book. Leave superstitious habits where they belong: in private, at home.

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[–] WormFood@lemmy.world 52 points 2 months ago (10 children)

If the ban is intended to stop children from feeling pressured to dress in a way that conforms to their family's religion, why does it only target islam and not extend to other religious garments or accessories (e.g. kippah, turban, crucifix)?

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[–] theuniqueone@lemmy.dbzer0.com 33 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Sexist and racist nonsense targeted to control women and punish minorities.

[–] Zacryon@feddit.org 9 points 2 months ago (4 children)

Exactly. Good thing then that this ban was enacted, since this may help a little to not punish children and loosen control over women.

[–] Schmoo@slrpnk.net 6 points 2 months ago

Loosen control over women by controlling what women are allowed to wear because the clothing she wants to wear comes from a culture that controls what women are allowed to wear. Great job liberating women from having to make their own choices, you're such a hero.

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[–] SCmSTR@lemmy.blahaj.zone 27 points 2 months ago (1 children)

If not for religion, banning a scarf would be universally seen as inane.

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[–] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 27 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

The government says the main goal is to protect children's development and their freedom to develop as individuals, arguing that girls should be protected from potential family or social pressure to wear a headscarf.

If that is really the objective, then make domestic religious coercion liable to incur fines and institute mechanisms for kids to safely report coercion and for protecting and defending the choices of girls. You force your daughter to wear something against her will? She reports it to a safe adult at school and you get a visit from child services. The same mechanisms of course should be in place for protecting kids from bullying, domestic violence, atheist kids, queer and trans kids, kids whose parents are far right extremists, kids who support a different football team than their dads, metalhead kids, etc. Protecting kids is uncontroversial.

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[–] itsjustachairmary@lemmy.world 21 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Just let women decide what the fuck they want to wear. These laws do the opposite of that, and they are fully aware, because it has never been about women's rights to begin with. It has always been racism.

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[–] CarpalTunnelButt@sh.itjust.works 17 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Ban religions on kids. Best law.

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[–] AI_toothbrush@lemmy.zip 16 points 2 months ago (1 children)

You know theres also the solution of just making sure theyre not forced to wear it. The problem is not a fucking piece of clothing but systematic oppression. The west happily does systematic oppression so long as it doesnt look bad. The only difference in other places is that it looks bad from the outside. You shouldnt change the looks of it but what actually happens. And on top of that, if you have a child in a school that is visibly distressed because theyre forced to wear something thats a sign of something not being right. If the government bans it youre removing a sign of abuse. Its like making having bruses illegal in public, youre not solving abuse just making everybodys life randomly a bit worse and hiding the signs of some abuse. Stupid ass law

[–] racemaniac@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 2 months ago (4 children)

"You know theres also the solution of just making sure theyre not forced to wear it." Just honest curiosity, but how? This sounds really difficult in any case, let alone with young children.

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[–] ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world 14 points 2 months ago (15 children)

What about other traditions? Why single out Islam?

Continued singling out of Islam will lead to Christofascism, as Christianity will seem like an exceptional religion, incapable of anything bad.

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago (5 children)

Yes the traditional headdress of Christians should be banned as well.

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[–] sik0fewl@piefed.ca 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

But genital mutilation is still ok, I hope?

[–] TheLeadenSea@sh.itjust.works 11 points 2 months ago

please ban IGM and MGM as well as FGM, yeah

[–] Avicenna@programming.dev 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

This will only help to marginalize different parts of the society. It is no different to pitting them against each other.

I am not a fan of headscarf on children, the whole philosophy of it is quite sickening to be honest. But I have seen enough to know this won't help girls become independent individuals who can think for themselves and don't submit all their life to other men.

[–] QuickSuccess@lemmy.ca 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (12 children)

As a non Muslim who was born and lived in a Muslim majority country, I 100% agree with this ban. Children shouldn't be forced or indoctrinated into that oppressive way of life. When they grow up, they can wear it if they want.

There are millions, possibly hundreds of millions of women and girls around the world that are forced to wear that (or even more extreme versions of it) against their will. Just because we have some anecdotes of women wanting to wear it (after being brainwashed their whole lives with it) doesn't mean that banning it would infringe on anyone's rights.

Believe me there are entire countries where if you as a woman went there you would be forced to cover up 😢.

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[–] Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 6 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Legally dictating how much of a minor's body must be exposed to the general public? Are you fucking serious?

What right-wing fascists are promoting this law?

[–] Zacryon@feddit.org 20 points 2 months ago (7 children)

Legally dictating that children are slightly less forced into superstitious habits?

Seems perfectly fine to me.

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[–] anarchy79@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

"You can't wear those clothes here!! This an open and free society! Here in Austria we follow The One True Dresscode."

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