Dear Members of Parliament,
We hereby submit the official position of the Islamic Shiite Religious Community in Austria regarding the proposed headscarf ban, with the urgent request that it be carefully considered during the parliamentary decision-making process.
The Shiite Religious Community in Austria firmly and unequivocally opposes any ban on the headscarf. Such a prohibition constitutes a serious infringement upon religious freedom, a right explicitly guaranteed both by the Austrian Federal Constitution and by international human rights instruments – in particular the European Convention on Human Rights.
For countless believing women, wearing the headscarf is an integral part of their religious practice and identity. A legal ban directly interferes with the fundamental right to free exercise of religion and represents an unjustifiable restriction of this right.
Rule of Law and Equal Treatment
As a democratic state governed by the rule of law, Austria has a constitutional duty to protect societal pluralism and the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. A blanket ban on the headscarf constitutes targeted discrimination against a specific worldview and stands in clear contradiction to the principle of equal treatment.
Women’s Rights and Self-Determination
The headscarf ban is justified with the claim of protecting women. In reality, however, it deprives women of their right to self-determination and forces them to renounce their religious convictions. Far from strengthening autonomy, such a ban removes women’s ability to live freely according to their faith and strips them of agency over their own bodies and religious practice.
Integration and Social Cohesion
Sustainable integration is built on mutual respect and the recognition of cultural and religious diversity. A ban fosters division, encourages polarization and exclusion, and undermines peaceful coexistence rather than promoting it.
Regarding the Ban on Headscarves for Girls Under 14
The government argues that the headscarf constitutes “coercion”. This view is deeply problematic and detached from reality. The blanket equation of the headscarf with coercion is profoundly discriminatory and unconstitutional. It collectively accuses an entire religious community of wrongdoing. In many faiths, religious education begins at a young age – whether through First Holy Communion in Christianity or learning prayers in Islam. The headscarf is part of this practice and must not be categorically labeled as coercion.
Distinguishing Between Coercion and Voluntariness
The proposed law presumes that all girls are forced to wear the headscarf. This normative assumption disregards the lived reality of numerous families in which the headscarf is worn out of genuine personal religious conviction. A ban would rob these children of the opportunity to develop an authentic identity.
Pedagogical Impact
Children learn through role models and gradual introduction to religious duties and practices. The headscarf can serve as an identity-strengthening orientation rather than an instrument of oppression. A state-imposed ban, by contrast, sends the normative message that certain forms of faith are less valued, thereby creating a double disadvantage.
Moreover, in Austria it is currently permitted for children to wear religious symbols in comparable situations (e.g., crosses, altar server robes, etc.). Singling out the headscarf for restriction treats Muslim children unequally and violates the principle of equal treatment.
Our Appeal
Instead of blanket bans, the Shiite Religious Community calls for evidence-based, nuanced measures such as awareness-raising, support services for those actually affected, strengthened counseling structures, and the promotion of education that empowers self-determination.
We urge political decision-makers to withdraw the headscarf ban and to uphold the fundamental rights of all citizens.
Freedom of religion is an indispensable pillar of peaceful coexistence in Austria.
The Shiite Religious Community stands for respect, dignity, and equality and will continue to advocate for the rights of its members.
With kind regards,
Islamic Shiite Religious Community in Austria (ISGÖ)
Vienna, 24 November 2025
extends its heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to the followers of the Catholic Church worldwide, particularly to our Christian fellow citizens in Austria, during this time of great loss. We pray for their strength and comfort, and we ask Almighty God, in His boundless mercy, to bestow peace, blessings, and grace upon them and all of humanity.