Austria has officially begun enforcing a new law banning hijab in public and private schools for girls under the age of 14 as the academic year got under way on Monday, sparking political divisions and imminent legal challenges over religious freedoms.

The restriction targets head coverings traditionally worn by Muslims, including the hijab. The Austrian government alleged that the policy aims at "protecting" girls and promoting 'gender equality'.

The legislation was proposed by Austria's ruling coalition—comprising the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), the Social Democrats (SPÖ), and the liberal NEOS party—and passed parliament in December with support from the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ).