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.
Where do I get the right to tell you anything about how much clothing you must remove from your children?
That’s what you’re doing. You’re giving me that power. You’re telling me that my decision on what your children must wear supersedes both your judgment, and theirs. They don’t get to wear what they want, because I have decided that they need to show me some skin.
You think I should have that power because your beliefs are superstitious nonsense and you can’t be trusted to exercise those beliefs?
^ This is fascism. This is what fascism looks like. It slips in quietly, and polishes away those minor nonconformities that have been so offending our delicate sensibilities It establishes and promotes the idea that we’re all better off with just a touch more authoritarianism. One more edict, one more imposition of state against an individual we don’t really like. That’s “perfectly fine”.
Fuck that. Democracy says power flows from the people. The state serves the people, collectively and individually. And the state has no legitimate interest in dictating what may and may not be worn by children.
This law is bigoted nonsense.
„This is fascism. This is what fascism looks like. It slips in quietly, and polishes away those minor nonconformities that have been so offending our delicate sensibilities It establishes and promotes the idea that we’re all better off with just a touch more authoritarianism. One more edict, one more imposition of state against an individual we don’t really like.“
Are you talking about arabic islam?
Yes.
But mostly, I am talking about the authoritarian mindset that gave us this fascist law.
This asshole law oppresses the victims of religious oppression to teach these oppressed victims that oppressing people is wrong.
It paints these women and girls into a corner. It sets them up with a scenario where the only viable solution is for them to stay at home, locked away with the religious fascists who won’t let them out without hijab. Locked away from the prying eyes of a public that criminalizes instead of empowering. Liberal society could be attacking their oppressors by supporting and promoting the personal agency of women and girls. Instead, we have adopted this fascist mindset that has us specifically targeting victims of religious oppression for additional state-sponsored oppression.
Fascism. This is what the larval stage of fascism looks like. Fuck. This. Shit.