Austria’s parliament has approved a law to ban girls in primary schools from wearing headscarves, adding to the country’s existing restrictions on veils.

The bill is likely to be challenged as discriminatory in Austria’s Constitutional Court.

The bill passed late on Wednesday with support from the governing coalition of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz‘s conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) and the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ).

Almost all of the opposition voted against it. Former Social Democrat Party education minister Sonja Hammerschmid accused the government of focusing on chasing headlines rather than acting to improve child welfare.

The measure does not specifically mention Muslim women, but bans wearing “ideologically or religiously characterised clothing” covering the head, and specifically refers to items “that cover the whole or large parts of the hair”.

Which countries have banned the burqa? Show all 9 1 /9 Which countries have banned the burqa? Which countries have banned the burqa? France Full-face veils have been banned in public in France since 2011. Punishable by a fine AFP/Getty Which countries have banned the burqa? France There was a further ban in 2016 on burkinis, a full-body swimsuit Reuters Which countries have banned the burqa? Morocco The sale, production and import of the burqa is illegal in Morocco. AFP/Getty Which countries have banned the burqa? Belgium Full-face veils have been banned in public in Belgium since 2011. Punishable by a fine Getty Which countries have banned the burqa? Bulgaria Full-face veils are banned in Bulgaria. Punishable by a fine and benefit sanctions Getty Which countries have banned the burqa? Denmark Full-face veils have been banned in Denmark since 2018. Punishable by a fine AFP/Getty Which countries have banned the burqa? Austria Full-face veils have been banned in Austria's courts and schools since 2017. Punishable by a fine AFP/Getty Which countries have banned the burqa? The Netherlands Full-face veils have been banned in public buildings and on on public transport in the Netherlands since 2016. Punishable by a fine AFP/Getty Which countries have banned the burqa? Sri Lanka Full-face veils have been in banned in Sri Lanka since 2019 AFP/Getty

Austria’s previous government had previously prohibited full-face veils in courts, schools and other “public places”.

Police officers, judges, magistrates and public prosecutors were also already banned from wearing headscarves.

The government said the patka head covering worn by Sikh boys or the Jewish yarmulke would not be affected as they only partially cover the hair.

Exceptions will also be made for head coverings for medical reasons or for protection against rain or snow.

The ÖVP’s Rudolf Taschner said the bill was designed to “free girls from submission”, and the FPÖ’s education spokesman Wendelin Mölzer said the law was drawn up to send a message “against political Islam” and to promote integration.

Austria’s official Muslim community organisation the IGGOe described the legislation as a “destructive” law and previously condemned the proposal for a ban as “shameless” and a “diversionary tactic”.