Thursday, June 03, 2021
Protection of the Constitution determined
“Warnings” against Muslim institutions in Austria
The Austrian government has received severe criticism for its “Islam map”, among other things because its publication could endanger people. This concern now seems to be confirmed with the appearance of warning signs in front of the listed facilities.
After the publication of a controversial “Map of Political Islam” in Austria in Vienna, signs with warnings about Muslim organizations appeared. Constitutional protection officials are investigating those behind the action and patrolmen have been instructed to pay increased attention to Islamic institutions, a police spokesman said.
The warning signs contained a direct reference to the online map with more than 600 Muslim houses of prayer, youth groups and other organizations, including those from the moderate Muslim spectrum, presented by a government research agency last week. The conservative Integration Minister Susanne Raab defended the project as a contribution to the fight against extremism.
In contrast, Christian church representatives, Muslims, opposition parties and a representative of the Council of Europe have condemned the card as stigmatizing and divisive. The descriptions of many entries contained partly incorrect, partly imprecise generalized explanations. The card has also been criticized because it contains private addresses of individuals, which could put them at risk.
The signs that strangers had hung in front of Muslim institutions showed a bearded man with a scowl and the words “Attention! Political Islam near you.” Minister Raab responded with a statement in which she equated the alleged right-wing poster campaigners with Islamists. “As a society, we must continue to act consistently against extremism from all sides,” she said. Neither do you allow right-wing groups to politically abuse the fight against Islamism, nor do you allow yourself to be dissuaded by threats from the Islamist side.
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