The law received support from the governing coalition of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz‘s conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) and the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), whilst almost all of the opposition voted against it. The policy does not specifically mention Muslim women or girls, but bans the wearing of “ideologically or religiously characterized clothing” covering the head, and specifically refers to items “that cover the whole or large parts of the hair”.

The government said the patka head covering worn by Sikh boys or the Jewish kippah would not be affected as they only partially cover the hair. Austria’s last government had previously banned the niqab in courts, schools and other public places. Judges, magistrates, police officers and public prosecutors are already banned from wearing the hijab.

Exceptions will be made for head coverings for medical reasons or for protection against snow or rain. Rudolf Taschner of the ÖVP’ said the law was designed to “free girls from submission”, and the FPÖ’s education spokesman Wendelin Mölzer said the bill was made to send a message “against political Islam” and to promote integration.

Austria’s official Muslim community organization the IGGOe described the legislation as a “destructive” law and previously condemned the proposal for a ban as “shameless” and a “diversionary tactic”. The IGGOe said in any case, very few Muslim girls will be affected.

Source: 5pillarsuk.com

Alexander Van der Bellen, the left-wing former Green Party leader who narrowly beat a far-right candidate to take office in January, said freedom of expression was a fundamental right.

“It is every woman’s right to always dress how she wants, that is my opinion on the matter,” he told an audience of school pupils. “And it is not only Muslim women, all women can wear a headscarf, and if this real and rampant Islamophobia continues, there will come a day where we must ask all women to wear a headscarf – all – out of solidarity to those who do it for religious reasons.”

Mr Van der Bellen was responding to a question from a schoolgirl who argued a ban on Islamic headscarves or veils would reduce women to their appearance, rather than accomplishments, and shut some out of the labor market.

His comments were made in March but emerged after being broadcast on Austrian television, amid debate in the country and neighboring Germany about “burqa bans”. A spokesperson said that following Isis-linked terror attacks across Europe, Mr Van der Bellen would like to see Muslim representatives in Austria make “clearer statements” emphasizing that the atrocities could not be justified within Islam.

“He also warned against ‘racism from the other side’, giving the example of a Muslim taxi driver refusing to take Orthodox Jews,” a statement said, adding: “This is absolutely unacceptable.”

The President’s office said he believed prohibitions were only justified in select circumstances, such as for female judges, where religious dress could raise questions over their professional neutrality.

The populist Freedom Party of Austria has pushed for policies including a partial ban on full-face Islamic veils in courts, schools and other public places, which was announced in January. The partial prohibition, which has not yet come into effect, would apply to the niqab and burqa but not headscarves (hijabs), which cover the hair and neck only. But the government also agreed to prevent police officers, judges, magistrates and public prosecutors from wearing headscarves in the interest of appearing “ideologically and religiously neutral”.

Source: The Independent