Symbol of oppression or violation of rights? Austria is divided over the hijab ban
A sharp political dispute has erupted within the ruling coalition in Austria over a bill that aims to ban the wearing of hijabs for young girls in schools. The law, supported by the conservative ÖVP party, faces increasing resistance from the Social Democratic Party SPÖ, which has questioned its fairness and constitutionality.
The Ministry of Justice, led by Anna Sporrer from the SPÖ party, expressed its concern about the draft law, pointing out that it lacks accurate data on the number of girls under the age of fourteen who wear the hijab, while warning that the law may violate the principle of equality. The ministry recommended adopting a "gender and religion-neutral" formula to avoid specifically targeting the Islamic hijab.
The Ministry of Women's Affairs, led by Eva-Maria Holzleitner, criticized the proposed law, warning that it could lead to increased discrimination against students of immigrant backgrounds. The ministry's equality commission pointed out that racism is already part of the experience of many students in educational institutions, and that the new law "could exacerbate these experiences." Holzleitner added that the previous ban imposed during the "Turquoise-Blue" coalition was rightly lifted in 2020, calling for a "serious discussion" about the new draft law.
On her part, Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm from the ÖVP party defended the bill, asserting that it is the result of an agreement within the coalition and not an individual initiative from her. She expressed her astonishment at the criticisms from the Ministry of Justice, pointing out that Minister Anna Sporer's team participated in drafting the proposal. While she was willing to clarify some terms such as 'cultural commitment to honor', she blamed the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the NEOS party for obstructing access to accurate data. Plakolm clarified that estimates indicate that around 12,000 girls in Vienna alone could be affected by the law.
In contrast, SPÖ representatives confirmed that they support a ban on the hijab as long as it is in accordance with the constitution, warning that a poorly thought-out law could be annulled by the Constitutional Court or lead to penalties from the European Court of Human Rights. The party leader in Styria, Max Lercher, stated that "the protection of girls must take precedence over false tolerance," while the governor of Lower Austria, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, described the hijab as a "symbol of oppression," adding: "Girls should be able to laugh, learn, and dream freely — without being restricted by the hijab. Let us protect our daughters' freedom, now."