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.

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.

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.

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)?

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

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

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.

Ban religions on kids. Best law.

While religion itself is a disaster, this is unambiguously targetting one religion in particular and will not have positive effects.

I thought girls weren't required by Islam to wear headscarfs until that age anyway?

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

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.

But genital mutilation is still ok, I hope?

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.

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

I don't think decisions made in this manner have a very simple correct answer. For example, the commandment in Islam for women to cover themselves is intended for after women reach adulthood. But suppose this person has a religion, and this religion requires girls to wear a headscarf from birth. In that case, this situation may be compatible with equality but contrary to freedom. But if persons who are not yet of legal age are under their parents' responsibility while also being under the state's responsibility, then in this case will they be subject to two separate legal systems: the rules in state buildings and the rules at home and in public space? In this situation, it is difficult to choose a side.

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?

Watch the average Liberal agree with far right parties because they are racist again.

They wanna increase that to 70%

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 😢.

Because wearing these hurts... checks notes... Oh right, no one.

Honestly, we should bring back headscarves (and hats, while we're here) as a fashionable accessory.

That'd nip this in the bud.

I get why women who are sexually mature have to cover in islam. But I don't get covering of little girls. I more often see covered mums with their little daughters uncovered which makes sense. But I don't get covering of the little ones.

How is this even a debate? Everyone should agree that they should be banned. But for some reason, when it is religiously motivated, it suddenly is fine to force woman to veil themselves? Imagine the utter outrage of the Left when the Right would force women to wear hijabs. Why tf is it okay when one side does it, but not okay when the other does it? It's pure hypocrisy.

I love Austria so much, been there a few times. This does not represent the folks I broke bread with over there.