Shortly after the start of the school year

55 headscarf cases are now being referred to the authorities

In 55 cases so far, the parents of the affected girls must now attend a meeting at the Vienna Department of Education.(Bild: FOTOKERSCHI / MARKUS HAUSER)

Just two weeks after the start of the school year, 55 headscarf cases have already been referred to the Vienna Board of Education. Now the parents must appear before the authorities. If the headscarf remains on, the next level of escalation looms.

The grace period is over: 55 cases have now been forwarded from Vienna schools to the Education Directorate. This is where those female students end up whose discussions with teachers and school administrators have not led them to remove their headscarves. The first appointments will begin at the end of this week, with a dedicated team from the educational services department handling the cases. There will be no negotiation. The Education Directorate makes it clear that the discussions are “explicitly not substantive debates on principle.” Parents will once again be given a “very matter-of-fact” explanation of the legal situation—including possible consequences. The authority also anticipates a temporary plateau. A further explosive surge is not currently expected.

After the Department, the District Office Takes Over
Anyone who continues to insist on wearing the headscarf after that will be referred to the next level. “Then it’s up to the district office,” says the Department of Education. At that point, it is no longer a matter of educational discussions, but rather of administrative penalty proceedings.

In 55 cases so far, the parents of the affected girls must now attend a meeting at the Vienna Department of Education.(Bild: FOTOKERSCHI / MARKUS HAUSER)

The reasons are varied
What’s controversial, however, is who is behind the resistance: The motives are “very complex.” There are also cases in which older girls, in particular, do not want to remove their headscarves themselves—even though their parents would like to persuade them to do so. The authorities therefore expressly caution against concluding that all cases involve radical families. Only the upcoming meetings will reveal the actual motives.
One thing is certain, however: Anyone who continues to violate the ban after being warned by the school and the Department of Education must expect to face a penalty. These discussions will then escalate into an official case.