VIENNA, (Muhammad Amir Siddique) – Demonstration in the heart of Vienna ! On Friday, October 9th, Thousands of young people took to the streets to protest against the headscarf ban. More and more students are gathering. Numerous flags and homemade signs are being held aloft. As can be heard over the microphone, some of them have traveled to Vienna from other Austrian states specifically to protest against the headscarf ban. But it’s not just in the capital that young people are taking to the streets – protests are also taking place on October 9th in Graz, Innsbruck, and Linz, among other cities.

Since the start of this school year, girls up to the age of 14 are no longer allowed to wear headscarves on school grounds. The ban has met with resistance: According to organizers, around 3,000 people participated in the school strike in Vienna. Among the demonstrators were numerous students who, according to their own statements, are advocating for religious freedom and self-determination. They criticize the ban as “racist” and “sexist.”

Another demonstrator, who wished to remain anonymous, shared a similar view. He argued that the headscarf ban had nothing to do with protecting children, but was instead a “racist instrument” and an expression of anti-Muslim racism. In his opinion, the real problems with integration lay not with the refugees, but with the government’s political decisions. These, he claimed, were being obscured by the headscarf ban instead of addressing the lack of opportunities for young people.

The Vienna demonstration started around 12:45 pm. The announced route leads from Human Rights Square via Babenbergerstrasse and the Ringstrasse to Josef-Meinrad-Platz. From there, it will proceed via Bankgasse and Abraham-a-Sancta-Clara-Gasse to Minoritenplatz. The rally concluded around 6 PM.