Austrian Court to Decide on School Headscarf Ban for Under-14s by Mid-2027

Austria's Constitutional Court said it will deliver a judgment on the recently enacted prohibition of Muslim headscarves for schoolchildren under 14 during the first half of 2027. The measure, pushed by the three-party ruling coalition and passed with backing from the far-right Freedom Party, bans headscarves for pupils aged 9 to 12 and requires schools to hold discussions before imposing fines ranging from €150 to €800.

The law took effect on September 1, but its legality is contested by female pupils and their parents, who argue it breaches freedom of religion and equality before the law. The court had previously invalidated a similar ban for under-10s in 2020. Opposition came from the Greens, rights groups, left-wing organisations and the body representing Austria’s Muslims. Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr reported roughly 80 instances of non-compliance nationwide, fewer than anticipated.