Austria

Government & Politics

Vienna honors victims of terror attack 1 year later Austrian leaders have taken part in a memorial service to remember the people killed during a shooting spree in central Vienna in 2020. Criticism remains over the government's actions in the run-up to the violence.

November 2, 2021   

(Deutsche Welle) Vienna marked one year on Tuesday since a deadly terror attack that left four people dead. On November 2, 2020, a sympathizer of the so-called Islamic State (IS) group shot and killed four people in the Austrian capital before he himself was […]

Government & Politics

Muslim Brotherhood’s influence in Europe laid bare Austrian report says taxpayers are unwittingly funding the group, which has close ties to Turkey

October 28, 2021   

(National-UAE) The Muslim Brotherhood has established vast influence in Europe and public bodies are unwittingly funding its activities, experts believe. Despite having only a few hundred senior figures in Europe, Brotherhood activists have sought to portray themselves as representatives for the entire […]

Government & Politics

Austria appoints Jordanian as security chief Appointment follows criticism of old security organisation after failure to prevent attack by Islamic State sympathiser in November

September 17, 2021   

(Middle East Eye) An Austrian-Jordanian has been appointed … head of the country’s new security agency, following harsh criticism of the previous institution’s failure to prevent an attack by an alleged Islamic State (IS) sympathiser. The appointment of Omar Haijawi-Pirchner as head […]

Government & Politics

Austria must give gay refugee another shot at asylum, EU court rules Austria is known for taking a hardline approach to refugees, most recently refusing to take in Afghan refugees after that country fell to the Taliban.

September 9, 2021   

(Courthouse News) Austria was wrong to not give an Iraqi refugee a second chance at asylum after he revealed he was gay, the European Union’s highest court held Thursday. The European Court of Justice found that an Iraqi man who applied for […]

Government & Politics

Austria adopts anti-terrorism laws that put Muslim Brotherhood groups in crosshairs Extremist groups' symbols banned with a €10,000 ... fine for offenders

July 8, 2021   

(National-UAE) Austria has adopted new penalties against the promotion of extremist groups, including those with links to “religiously-motivated crimes,” that will ban the symbols of a range of terrorist groups. The new federal law prohibits the use of symbols representing ISIS, Al […]

Government & Politics

Austria’s Muslim youth file lawsuit against ‘Islam map’ The map, showing the names and location of over 600 mosques and associations in the country, has sparked outcry.

May 29, 2021   

(Deutsche Welle) Muslim Youth Austria (MJO) is filing a lawsuit against the country’s controversial “Map of Political Islam,” the group announced on Saturday. The map, showing the names and location of over 600 mosques and associations in Austria and their possible links abroad, […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Austria sparks uproar with ‘Islam map’

May 27, 2021   

(AFP) The Austrian government came under fire Thursday for a new “Islam map” showing the location of mosques and associations around the country, with religious groups saying it would stigmatise Austria’s Muslim population. Earlier, Integration Minister Susanne Raab unveiled an internet website […]

Government & Politics

Austria outlaws Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah Austrian FM: 'This step reflects reality. The group itself makes no distinction between the military and the political arm.'

May 14, 2021   

(Jerusalem Post) Austria banned Hezbollah in its entirety this week, going beyond the European Union policy of outlawing the Lebanese terrorist group’s so-called military arm. “This is a very clear signal,” said Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, after the Council of Ministers […]

Clerics & Preachers

Austria calls for European register of Muslim imams Austria has already adopted an obligatory imam registry among other measures aimed at reducing terrorism after a November terror attack in Vienna.

January 2, 2021   

(Deutsche Welle) Since the start of 2021, Austria has required the registration of all imams in the country. The mandate was one of several new measures Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s government adopted after a November 2 terror attack in Vienna. Four civilians were […]

Government & Politics

Austria drops ‘political Islam’ from controversial bill Gov't replaces contentious phrase with 'religiously-motivated extremism' in revised terrorism draft law

December 17, 2020   

(Anadolu) Austria’s coalition government on Wednesday revised its controversial “anti-terror” law, using the phrase “religiously motivated extremism” instead of “political Islam.” Following a cabinet meeting, Interior Minister Karl Nehammer, Justice Minister Alma Zadic and Integration Minister Susanne Raab announced a package of […]

Immigration

Vienna: Iraqi jailed for life over attacks on German ICE trains An Iraqi accused of trying to derail three German high-speed passenger trains in 2018 has been handed a life sentence by a court in Vienna. The jury ultimately rejected his denial of being an 'Islamic State' supporter.

December 4, 2020   

(Deutsche Welle) Vienna’s regional court on Thursday sentenced a 44-year-old Iraqi to life in prison for attempting to derail high-speed passenger trains in Germany. The man had been living in the Austrian capital as a refugee with his wife and four children since 2013. The […]