Headscarf ban for girls: government grabs and rely on compulsion!

Headscarf ban for girls: government grabs and rely on compulsion!

The Austrian government is planning significant reforms in the field of integration and social policy as well as a ban on headscarves for Muslim girls under the age of 14 at schools that affect both public and private Islamic institutions. This prohibition, which goes hand in hand with fines for parents from several hundred to over 1000 euros, aims at strict control by teachers and authorities. In this newly oriented integration policy, the time of voluntaryness for integration measures is also declared an end.

Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm from the ÖVP announced a three -year, mandatory integration program that is to be linked to the reform of social assistance. This program affects asylum and subsidiary protectionists as well as displaced persons from Ukraine. In the event of non-showing German or values ​​courses, affected reductions in the event of integration allowance, which emphasizes the obligation to participate in such courses. According to Plakolm, the height of the aid will in future be linked to participation and willingness to work.

Reform of social assistance and integration

In the upcoming reform of social assistance, the aim is to create a fairer structure with benefits in kind and uniform minimum standards. The aim is to lead families out of permanent dependency and to improve educational opportunities for children. Plakolm emphasizes that 73 percent of social welfare households are upstream. The integration allowance is granted on the basis of the willingness to integrate, which increases the need for active participation in integration measures.

Another central concern of the Minister of Integration is a ban on headscarves for schoolchildren under the age of 14. This ban, which was canceled by the Constitutional Court in 2020, is now primarily to be reintroduced with the focus on the child's well -being. Accompanying measures such as parents' conversations, discussions with school psychologists and youth welfare are planned to strengthen the girls concerned and to take responsibility.

Political reactions and challenges

The SPÖ's ideas, which also demands an obligation for Austrians to integrate programs, were rejected by the ÖVP and NEOS. In addition, the reforms discussed led to the adjoining social welfare measures, which further heated up the political debate about the costs of over one billion euros annually, 61 percent of which flow to non-Austrians. These reforms appear in the context of the declined asylum figures and the existing challenges in integration policy, where empty courses and repeated breakdowns are a serious problem.

In parallel to these changes, the recent danger of national security was found by the violation of the Polish airspace of at least 19 Russian drones. In response, the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk requests consultations according to Article 4 of the NATO contract. The EU and NATO condemn this aggression while Russia rejects responsibility.

Austria therefore faces significant challenges in integration and social policy, whereby the planned reforms could be pioneering for future development. The need for integration is considered essential and tries to promote legal measures and regulated programs.

For more information on the reforms and their backgrounds, visit [Exxpress] (https://exxpress.at/news/express-live-donnerstag-7-30-poe-will-oesterreicher- zu-integration-- VOL.AT and Kosmo.