Claudia Plakolm

Claudia Plakolm is the integration minister of Austria. She is newsworthy due to her support of a recently passed law banning headscarves in schools for girls under the age of 14. This law, passed in December 2025, aims to take effect the following year. Plakolm has stated that the headscarf ban is intended to help children's rights. The legislation was passed by a large majority in Austria's lower house of parliament, following a previous ban that was overturned due to being discriminatory. The new law is expected to affect around 12,000 girls. The ban has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it infringes on religious freedom and contributes to a racist climate towards Muslims, as stated by rights groups like Amnesty International.