Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read | 15 December 2025

📷 Austria’s parliamentary vote to ban headscarves for girls under 14 has sparked widespread concern, with rights advocates warning the move deepens Islamophobia under the guise of “protection” and undermines Muslim girls’ freedom to express their faith.

Austria’s parliamentary vote to ban headscarves in schools for girls under the age of 14 has ignited strong criticism from human rights advocates, who warn that the move entrenches Islamophobia under the guise of “protection”.

The proposed ban, narrowly passed in parliament, has been framed by Austrian authorities as a measure to safeguard young girls. However, critics argue that it disproportionately targets Muslim communities and undermines the autonomy and religious freedom of Muslim girls.

Award-winning humanitarian and UN Women UK representative Shereen Mahmood described the justification as deeply flawed. “It’s an absolute shame and travesty that in 2025 hijab is still equated with oppression,” she said, adding that such narratives “take away from the autonomy of a Muslim woman and a Muslim girl to choose”.

Mahmood warned that similar policies across Europe, including in France and Switzerland, have shown that bans do not protect Muslim girls but instead marginalise them further. “We allow freedom to everyone, all backgrounds, sexualities and identities yet young Muslim girls are being targeted,” she noted.

Estimates suggest the Austrian ban could affect up to 12,000 girls. While some young Muslims have begun voicing opposition, Mahmood questioned whether adults and institutions have done enough to protect the next generation. She recalled that a previous attempt to ban hijab in Austria was ruled unconstitutional for being explicitly anti-Muslim. “The only way they could push this through was to claim that young girls don’t have the competence to decide what they should wear,” she said.

Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have warned that the ban risks fuelling a hostile and racist climate. Mahmood emphasised that discriminatory laws often translate quickly into real-world harm. “The primary targets are always Muslim women and girls who wear hijab. It’s no longer just verbal abuse it turns into real-life violence,” she said, citing examples from the UK following far-right marches.

She further rejected claims that Muslim girls are being coerced into wearing hijab, arguing there has been little to no engagement with Muslim families or communities. “There’s no evidence of governments consulting Muslim girls themselves about what hijab means in their lives,” she said.

Mahmood called for broader resistance to the ban, urging interfaith leaders, educators and international bodies to speak out. “Once the hijab is targeted, what’s next? The kippah, the turban, all symbols of faith,” she warned.

She stressed that hijab is not a symbol of oppression but of identity and belonging. “If Islamophobia is embedded in policy and law, then we must challenge it because this is fundamentally about human rights and the freedom to express one’s faith.”

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and UN Women UK representative Shereen Mahmood.