A soldier defends himself against a punishment because of his braid. The guardians of the constitution back him. They question why different rules apply to male and female soldiers. (symbolic image)
Keystone
Austria’s Constitutional Court has lifted the previous ban on braids for soldiers. The short hair requirement for men in the army violates the principle of equality, the court ruled.
This is because female soldiers are allowed to have long hair according to army regulations. A soldier had to pay a fine of 2,200 euros because of his ponytail hairstyle and had therefore complained to the Constitutional Court.
The previous regulation stipulated that the hair of professional soldiers and soldiers on military service must not touch the collar. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner argued to the Constitutional Court with hygiene aspects and the lower risk of injury for short-haired soldiers.
The judges did not accept these arguments. They pointed out that Austria’s female soldiers are allowed to wear braids and pinned-up hairstyles despite concerns about long hair. In the view of the constitutional guardians, the strict rules for men also violated their right to privacy. The armed forces must now draw up new hairstyle regulations for men and women that comply with the constitution.