Headscarf Statement by Plakolm: IGGÖ Expresses "Irritation"

In a video shared on Instagram, the minister stated that the headscarf is an expression of "extremist tendencies." IGGÖ President Ümit Vural warned on Monday in a press release against "instrumentalizing child welfare for sweeping measures."

"The Headscarf is a Sign of Oppression"

"The headscarf is a sign of oppression," Plakolm stated in her short clip. Girls are "hidden" behind it during a crucial phase when personality and body are developing, she argued. "And these extremist tendencies - especially among children - simply have no place in our schools."

The association of the headscarf as an "expression of the religious practice of a religious community legally recognized in Austria" with extremist tendencies not only unsettles many young Muslim women but also all those who rely on the protection of religious freedom and equal treatment, criticized Vural. "Child welfare is a high good that must not be played off against fundamental rights."

Vural Invites to Discussion

At the same time, the IGGÖ signaled its willingness to engage in dialogue and invited Plakolm to a confidential exchange with Muslim educators, parents, and young people. "If the statement was misunderstood, a public clarification would be urgently required, also in the interest of a respectful societal dialogue," said Vural.

(APA/Red)

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