Austria began enforcing a nationwide ban on headscarves for girls under 14 in schools on Monday, coinciding with the start of the new academic year in Vienna, Lower Austria, and Burgenland.

The legislation prohibits "traditional Muslim" head coverings such as hijabs in both public and private schools. It applies to all girls below the age of 14 and targets what officials describe as symbols of oppression.

Integration Minister Claudia Bauer of the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) stated that the headscarf represents "a sign of oppression and a means of controlling girls from the earliest childhood." The government coalition of the ÖVP, Social Democrats (SPÖ), and liberal Neos passed the measure last December, framing it as a commitment to gender equality and the protection of young girls.

Enforcement begins with discussions between school officials, the student, and her parents or guardians. Repeated violations can lead to involvement of child welfare services and fines ranging from €150 to €800 for families.

The new school year starts next week in Austria's remaining six states. Teachers received guidance to handle initial cases through dialogue rather than immediate penalties.

A previous headscarf ban for younger primary school students was struck down by the Constitutional Court in 2020 for violating religious neutrality. The current law attempts to address those concerns by applying more broadly and including an awareness phase that began earlier this year.

Austria's main Muslim organization, the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGO), denounced the ban as discriminatory and filed a constitutional challenge on the first day of enforcement. Left-wing groups have also organized protests, arguing the measure fuels anti-Muslim sentiment.

Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr acknowledged the legal balancing act between protecting children and upholding religious freedoms. Supporters maintain the policy promotes integration and individual liberty for minors who cannot yet consent to such practices.

The ban received parliamentary support from the far-right Freedom Party in addition to the governing coalition, while the Greens opposed it.