Austria bans headscarves in schools for under-14s21 hours ago Share Save Bethany Bell Vienna correspondent Share SaveGetty ImagesAustria has passed a law banning headscarves in schools for girls under the age of 14. The measure will apply to girls in both public and private schools. In 2020, a similar headscarf ban for girls under 10 was struck down by the Constitutional Court, because it specifically targeted Muslims. Members of the government say this is about empowering young girls, arguing it is to protect them "from oppression". It is a measure to protect the freedom of girls in this country," and added that the ban would affect about 12,000 children.