"Krone" commentary

Islamic moral guardians sit in the families

Susanne Wiesinger is a teacher at a hotspot school in Vienna-Favoriten and an author.(Bild: stock.adobe.com, Krone KREATIV)

One picture has stayed with me for days. The photo of an Iranian student. She was walking up and down the campus of her university, dressed only in her underwear. Moral guards had previously asked her to wear her hijab correctly. In protest, she took it off and stripped down to her underpants and bra. Her future fate is uncertain.

Why I am so moved by Ahoo Daryaei's desperate act is not just to do with the situation of Iranian women. This act makes me realize once again how little influence we have on strictly religious families, even in Austria.

Nine-year-old Esma has only been living here for a short time. She wears a black hijab. As you know, a ban on headscarves in schools was overturned by the Constitutional Court. Sometimes I learn German with her in a small group. Esma is a fast learner. She recently won a game. The girl cheered and tore off her headscarf.

Silence in the room. Admittedly, even I was startled for a moment. I then beamed just as much as Esma and said: "You don't have to wear it." Answer: "Mom says so." Before we left the room, she put it back on. Perhaps an isolated case, but these isolated cases are increasing.

The Republic of Iran is a long way away. Islamic moral guardians in families, on the other hand, are close by. They even force nine-year-olds to cover themselves up. The Austrian state should protect these girls before they submit or despair.