Protest in Vienna against Austria's headscarf ban

VIENNA

A group of young activists gathered in Vienna Monday to protest against a new regulation banning public servants, including teachers, from wearing headscarves.

Outside the University of Vienna, the protesters chanted slogans against the move and called for equality and freedom of religion for all.

The headscarf ban on public servants was drafted by Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Integration Sebastian Kurz.

Kurz said last week he wanted to ban public servants from wearing the headscarf.

Muslims as well as socialist and liberal institutions have been protesting against the ban since then.

Muslimische Jugend Osterreich (Muslim Youth of Austria) spokesperson Canan Yasar slammed the policy based on “women's appearances".

Addressing the crowd during the protest, Yasar rejected claimst women wearing headscarves at work would make negative impressions.

She called it a "dismissive" attitude of Austria.

"It is definitely unacceptable," Sozialistische Jugend Osterreich (Socialist Youth of Austria) Fiona Herzog said.

She pointed out the ban involved only Muslims and that such a regulation would only serve political motives.

*Reporting by Askin Kiyagan; Writing by Ayse Humeyra Atilgan