Austria has joined France in banning headscarves for girls under the age of 14 in schools.
The country's three-party coalition government has said the move represents a “clear commitment to gender equality,” though critics have warned it may be unconstitutional.
The ban will cover girls attending both public and private schools.
Austria’s Constitutional Court struck down a similar restriction in 2020 for children under the age of 10, ruling it unfairly targeted Muslim students.
The ban will cover girls attending both public and private schools (file photo)
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The updated law prohibits girls under 14 from wearing traditional Muslim head coverings, such as hijabs or burkas.
Students who fail to comply will be required to meet with school authorities and their parents or guardians to discuss the violation.
Repeated violations will be reported to Austria’s child and youth welfare authorities, and families or guardians could face fines up to €800 (£700).
Government ministers say the law aims to protect young girls “from oppression” and empower them.
Neos parliamentary leader Yannick Shetty said ahead of the vote that the measure is “not against religion.”
The Freedom Party of Austria voted in favour of the prohibition, but argued it did not go far enough
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He added: “It is a measure to protect the freedom of girls in this country.”
Mr Shetty noted the rule will impact around 12,000 children across Austria.
The Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) voted in favour of the prohibition despite sitting in opposition, but argued that the ban did not go far enough.
The measure was described as “a first step,” with the party urging that the ban should cover pupils of all ages and also include school members of staff.
FPO's families spokeswoman Ricarda Berger said: "There needs to be a general ban on headscarves in schools -political Islam has no place here."
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The official Islamic Community in Austria argued the ban infringed upon fundamental rights
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Georgetown University’s Bridge Initiative senior researcher Farid Hafez claimed the ban “reflects the hegemonic Islamophobic discourse in Austria".
He told Al Jazeera: “The latest legislation did not come from a purely far-right government."
The Austrian Greens voiced staunch opposition to the ban, with club chairwoman Sigrid Maurer labelling it as "clearly unconstitutional".
The official Islamic Community in Austria (IGGO) argued the ban infringed upon fundamental rights, saying that "instead of empowering children, they will be stigmatised and marginalised".
The IGGO vowed to assess "the constitutionality of the law and take all necessary steps".
The Austrian government says it has sought to design the law in a way that avoids targeting any specific religious group.
Mr Shetty said: "Will it pass muster with the Constitutional Court? I don't know. We have done our best."
A trial period will begin in February, with the ban fully implemented at the start of the new school year in September.
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