Austria to ban the Islamic veil for under-14s
As an «integration measure», girls up to the age of 14 in Austria will no longer be allowed to wear a headscarf in public, according to the forthcoming coalition government.
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Christian Stocker, president of the ÖVP and future chancellor, said in a statement on Thursday that The ban on the veil for girls will be implemented in accordance with the constitution.. The measure is part of a set of policies aimed at improving integration and promoting gender equality.
This initiative extends the existing ban on wearing the Islamic veil to girls up to the age of ten in primary schools.
The proposal will be debated in the Austrian parliament in the coming weeks. Intense discussions are expected before its possible approval. In the next few weeks it will be decided whether the ban will become law.
Measure to prevent segregation
According to the government programme, The ban on the veil for under-14s aims to protect girls from segregation and discrimination within society.. The authorities consider it an «integration measure» intended to ensure that all minors have the same opportunities.
The proposal has generated controversy. Its supporters claim that it will help to promote equality and prevent discrimination on religious grounds. By contrast, its detractors believe that it infringes on religious freedom and stigmatises Muslim girls.
Previous measures and European context
In 2017, Austria banned the use of the full-face veil in public spaces. The following year, the ban on the hijab was extended to girls under ten in primary schools.
Other European countries, such as France and Belgium, have also implemented similar restrictions in the past.
Package of tough measures on migration, security and integration
The aim of Austria's new government is to strengthen migration control and combat extremism, especially that linked to radical Islamism.
It has announced the creation of return procedure centres for asylum seekers awaiting deportation. The aim is to limit irregular entry into the country and to reinforce integration with tougher rules.
One of the rules is Require immigrants to take German and Austrian values classes.. If you do not show a willingness to cooperate, your asylum application will be rejected.
On the other hand, the toughening of the penal code against religious extremism, following a recent attack in Villach, reflects a zero-tolerance policy towards radical Islamism.
Responses to society's demands
These and other measures are the response of the coalition formed by the ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos to society's demands.
These three parties have managed to form a government, but the electoral victory went to the Freedom Party (FPÖ) under Herbert Kickl. The winner's proposals are similar to those now put forward by the coalition of losers.
It is the first time that Austria has had a three-party government, an alliance formed to prevent the far right from coming to power.
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