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Austria's new headscarf ban for under-14s sparks debate (www.euronews.com)
submitted 1 month ago by to c/world@lemmy.world
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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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[–] 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I will add that other groups, like trans women from middle eastern backgrounds for example, do also wear head covering to feel more feminine and in line with their real gender too.

I myself still wear black covid masks because it hides the 5-o'clock shadow and feels more feminine. This would be illegal in Austria under "Prohibition on the Covering of the Face" (originally targeting niqabs)

Overall governments placing rules on what people can and can't wear is a red flag. The only exception I understand is nazi tattoos.

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