Austria’s lawmakers have voted overwhelmingly to ban headscarves in schools for girls under 14. The law is set to start in September, with a soft launch in February to explain rules to schools and families. Repeated violations could lead to fines up to €800 (£700). This ban was pushed by Austria’s conservative-led government, which came to power in March. Before the vote, Yannick Shetty from the liberal Neos party said, “This is not about restricting freedom, but about protecting the freedom of girls up to 14.” He added that the headscarf “sexualises girls” by shielding them from the male gaze. This is the second time Austria targets headscarves in schools. In 2019, a similar ban on girls under 10 was overturned by the constitutional court for being discriminatory. Shetty admitted, “Will it pass muster with the constitutional court? I don’t know. We have done our best.” Despite this, the ban passed with strong support. Only the Green party opposed it, calling it unconstitutional. Rights groups like Amnesty International warned the law could worsen Islamophobia and harm Muslim communities. The official Islamic Community of Austria (IGGÖ) described the ban as “symbolic politics at the expense of those affected.” Women’s rights activist Angelika Atzinger said the law “sends girls the message that decisions are being made about their bodies.” Experts also say the ban distracts from Austria’s economic troubles, including a budget deficit of 4.7% of GDP. Farid Hafez, a researcher at Georgetown University, said the ban is more about exclusion than protecting children. He wrote the policy “signals to a new generation of Muslims that their place in Austrian society will always be precarious.” Critics fear the law will deepen divisions and label Muslim children as outsiders. The fight over headscarves continues with uncertainty over the court’s final decision.