Hawzah News Agency- Plakolm’s statement is apparently connected to a bill proposed by the Austrian government to prohibit headscarves in kindergartens and schools for girls under 14. According to Plakolm, the law will be passed in the fall of 2025.
In response, the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGO) criticised Plakolm, saying: “We are deeply disturbed by a recent statement by Minister of Culture Claudia Plakolm on the Islamic headscarf''.
The IGGO said that “linking the headscarf, which is an expression of the religious practice of a religious community recognised 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''.
According to the IGGO: “Those who deny girls religious self-determination across the board are missing the core of child protection''.
The organisation also expressed its willingness to engage in dialogue by inviting the minister to have a private discussion with Muslim educators, parents, and youth.
The Austrian government has a history of attempting to regulate the wearing of hijabs in schools.
This law was criticised for targeting Muslim girls specifically. The Austrian Constitutional Court overturned this ban in December 2020, ruling it discriminatory and a violation of religious freedom, as it disproportionately affected Muslim girls.
More broadly, Islamophobia in Austria has intensified in recent years, driven by political rhetoric, discriminatory legislation, and societal attitudes targeting the country’s Muslim population.
Beyond hijab bans, institutional measures have fueled Islamophobia. The 2015 Islam Law imposed strict regulations on Muslim organisations, requiring German-speaking imams and limiting foreign funding, measures not applied to other religions.
The 2021 “Islam Map” publicised mosque addresses, stigmatising Muslims as security risks and enabling far-right harassment.
These actions reflect a broader trend of securitising Muslim communities, often justified by vague references to “political Islam''.
A 2024 EU survey ranked Austria as the most Islamophobic EU country, with 71% of Muslims reporting discrimination in employment and housing.
Public opinion reflects this hostility, with 40% of Austrians supporting unequal rights for Muslims in 2021.
Source: 5 PILLARS
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