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Austria's new ban on headscarves for girls under 14 has come into effect as students return to school for the new academic year. The law applies to Muslim head coverings in both public and private schools, with repeated violations potentially leading to fines for parents or guardians. The government says the measure is intended to promote gender equality and protect young girls, while Muslim representatives and other critics argue it restricts religious freedom and unfairly targets Muslim students. Austria's Constitutional Court previously struck down a similar primary-school headscarf ban in 2020, raising fresh questions about the new legislation. #austria #headscarf #news #europe