‘Disturbing’: Austria’s Islamic Community Denounces Minister’s Remarks on Hijab
In a press statement on Monday, the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGO) said it was “deeply disturbed by a recent statement by Minister of Culture Claudia Plakolm on the Islamic headscarf.”
Plakolm, who represents the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), shared a video on Instagram Sunday in which she said: “The headscarf is a symbol of oppression. Girls are hidden behind headscarves at a critical stage in their personality and physical development, and extremist tendencies, particularly among children, have no place in our schools.”
Her statement appears to refer to a legislative proposal by the Austrian government to ban the wearing of headscarves for girls under the age of 14 in schools and kindergartens. The law is expected to be introduced in autumn 2025, Anadolu Agency reported on Monday.
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In response, the IGGO argued that associating the headscarf — a form of religious expression protected under Austrian law — with extremism creates anxiety among Muslim girls and undermines trust in principles of religious freedom and equality.
“Linking the headscarf, which is an expression of the religious practice of a religious community recognized by law in Austria, with ‘extremist tendencies’ unsettles not only many young Muslim women but also all those who trust in the protection of religious freedom and equal treatment,” the statement read.
The organization also warned that denying girls the right to religious self-expression could contradict the fundamental aims of child protection. “Those who deny girls religious self-determination across the board are missing the core of child protection,” it added.
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The IGGO said it is open to dialogue and invited Minister Plakolm to meet privately with Muslim teachers, parents, and youth to better understand the community’s concerns.
“If the statement was misleading, a public clarification would be urgently needed, also in the interests of respectful social dialogue,” the group stated.
Austria, a predominantly Catholic country, officially recognizes Islam as a religion. Muslim organizations have frequently raised concerns about growing anti-Muslim sentiment and its impact on religious freedom.
Source: Agencies
