Austria Freedom Party

Austrian lower house passes headscarf ban for under-14s in schools

Austria's lower house of parliament passed the ban despite uncertainty over whether such legislation is unconstitutional, as a previous ban was ruled unconstitutional five years ago.

High school students studying classes at school
 February 1 marks World Hijab Day. (Illustrative).

Austrian government presses ahead with planned headscarf ban in schools

 Austrian Chancellor and head of People's Party (OeVP) Karl Nehammer speaks with journalists after coalition talks in Vienna, Austria, December 20, 2024.

SPÖ joining coalition might be only way to stop rise of far-right in Austria - analysis

 Austrian far Right Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Herbert Kickl leaves the presidential office at Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria, February 12, 2025.

Austria's far-right fails to build a coalition, talks collapse


Austrian leader voted out

"To topple the government a few months before an election is something few people can understand," Kurz said the day his party's victory in the European Parliament.

Sebastian Kurz visits the Western Wall, June 10, 2018

Far-right party scandal rattles Austrian politics

Austrian Chancellor dissolved his coalition with the Freedom Party after the release of a video in which FP leader discussed state contracts in return for favors with a fake Russian oligarch's niece.

Head of the Freedom Party (FPOe) Heinz-Christian Strache (L) and head of the People's Party (OeVP) Sebastian Kurz shake hands at the end of a news conference in Vienna, Austria, December 15, 2017.

Far-right Austrian leader calls for ban on ritual slaughter

Animal slaughter without stunning is forbidden in Austria, although exemptions on religious grounds can be obtained, which is how kosher slaughter can be practiced in the country.

Austrian Parliament in Vienna, Austria March 19, 2016

Austrian state mulls limiting kosher meat sale to registered Jews

Klaus Schneeberger, the regional leader of ruling Austrian People’s Party of Chancellor Kurz, said, “Of course, nobody will have to register to buy kosher meat. There will be no such thing."

A Jewish man looks at meat at Palestinian butcher's shop in Hebron, in West Bank, 2018.

New technologies nurturing Big Brother

The Jerusalem Post

Austrian chancellor to visit Israel despite coalition partner's Nazi past

“Austria has a special historical responsibility never to forget the terrible crimes of the Holocaust and is committed to the security of Israel and its citizens,” Kurz wrote in his post.

Austria's Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz looks at pictures of Jews killed in the Holocaust during his visit to the Hall of Names at Yad Vashem's Holocaust History Museum in Jerusalem April 22, 2014

Nazi camp survivors, Austrian far-right party clash over memorial service

Though representatives of camp survivors stated it would be "a renewed humiliation" to have members of the party there, the FPO insisted that it has denounced its Nazi roots.

Harald Vilimsky of Austria's Freedom Party (FPOe) gives a speech during a European far-right leaders meeting to discuss about the European Union, in Koblenz, Germany, January 21, 2017

Israel renegotiates ties with Austria over party with Nazi roots

The Austrian Freedom Party, now part of Austria's governing coalition, was founded by a former SS officer in 1956.

New Austrian Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache and MK Yehudah Glick (Likud)

Austria's government aims to ban headscarves in kindergarten

If any such plan became law it would apply to girls of up to around the age of 10 years.

Top candidate of the People's Party (OeVP) Sebastian Kurz attends his party's victory celebration meeting in Vienna, Austria, October 15, 2017.

Netanyahu praises Austrian chancellor for Holocaust remembrance steps

Austria, Kurz said, has taken a long time to be “open and honest” about its past, and the country was “not only a victim but also a perpetrator.”

Austria's Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz looks at pictures of Jews killed in the Holocaust during his visit to the Hall of Names at Yad Vashem's Holocaust History Museum in Jerusalem April 22, 2014