A tarpaulin-shaped protection element for a backrest of a vehicle seat having at least one securing hook in a single piece with the protection element and which is used to secure the protection element to a strut structure of a vehicle seat. The protection element includes at least one cut-away tab bent outwards from a plane of the protection element and has a free end for forming the securing hook. The tab includes a retaining section for blocking the tab on the strut structure.