On 11 December, Parliament approved a law banning girls under 14 from wearing headscarves in public and private schools. The coalition government says the law promotes gender equality and protects children from coercion, patriarchy and sexualization, citing reports that girls’ autonomy is being pressured by social forces. Violation of the law leads to an initial meeting with school officials and guardians, while repeated violations must be reported to youth services and may incur fines of up to EUR 800. The ban is expected to affect about 12,000 minors. A trial phase starts in February 2026, and the ban is set to take effect in September with the new school year. The Islamic Faith Community (IGGÖ) plans to file a constitutional complaint, citing protections for religious freedom under Austria’s constitution and the ECHR. In 2020, the Constitutional Court struck down a similar ban for girls under 10 as discriminatory and in violation of equality and religious freedom.

Sources: Parlament Österreich (1), Parlament Österreich (2), Euronews, ORF, Verfassungsblog (1), Verfassungsblog (2)

On 1 September, Austria’s new Freedom of Information Act entered into force, abolishing the constitutional principle of official secrecy. Under the law, all public authorities must now make all ‘information of general interest’ publicly and electronically available, including via the federal portal of the national information register. Where information is not immediately publicly available, authorities will be required to respond to all requests for information within four to eight weeks. Though agencies were previously required to provide specific information upon request, the new law significantly expands the scope of information that must be disclosed, narrows the grounds for secrecy, shortens response deadlines and extends transparency obligations to companies that are more than 50 per cent publicly owned. While the Bundesrat passed the law on 15 February 2024, it was set to enter into force on 1 September 2025 to allow time to prepare the necessary infrastructure. 

Sources: Der Standard, Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes (1), Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes (2), Austrian Federal Office for Consumer Health  

On 10 June, a 21-year-old former student fatally shot 10 people before taking his own life at a school in Graz, Austria’s second-largest city. The incident is the deadliest shooting in Austria since World War II. Authorities reported that the suspect had no prior criminal record and left a suicide note, though it offered no clear motive. The two firearms used were legally owned. While Austria has one of the most heavily armed populations in Europe, such large-scale shootings are rare; the last major violent attack occurred in Vienna in 2020, resulting in four deaths. Chancellor Christian Stocker declared a three-day national mourning period and announced plans for stricter gun regulations.

Sources: Bundesministerium Inneres, Euronews, Tagesschau, British Broadcasting Company, Jurist

On 11 December, the National Council voted to lift the immunity of Herbert Kickl, leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), as well as three other FPÖ MPs involved in a separate matter. A former Conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) lawmaker has alleged that Kickl lied during a testimony about using public funds for FPÖ-positive advertisements.  The three other MPs are accused of violating the Nazi Prohibition Law by singing a Nazi song at a funeral. The decision to lift the immunity of the MPs allows prosecutors to proceed with investigations into the allegations. The FPÖ, which won Austria’s parliamentary elections in September 2024, called the decision politically motivated persecution. In February, former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was found guilty of perjury.

Sources: Austrian Government, Euronews, Reuters, The International,  Jurist, International IDEA (1), International IDEA  (2)