Umit Vural – Eye on Islamism

Austrian Muslims’ body demands clarification from state governor on anti-Islam remarks Lower Austria Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner called for 'measures in the fight against Islam' in interview on Sunday evening

January 6, 2025 Timo Kirez

(Anadolu) The president of the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGO), Umit Vural, on Monday, demanded a correction from Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner of northeastern Lower Austria for her anti-Islam remarks. Mikl-Leitner had spoken out against new elections in Austria in an interview […]

Church criticises Austrian government’s ‘Islam map’

June 4, 2021 Unlisted Author

(AFP) The Austrian Catholic church on Friday became the latest religious group to criticise a government-backed online map of hundreds of Muslim organisations which sparked violence against the Muslim minority. The highly controversial map shows details of more than 600 Muslim associations […]

Mosque closed over Vienna attack to reopen

April 12, 2021 Unlisted Author

(AFP) A Vienna mosque ordered shut after last year’s jihadist attack that left four people dead can reopen, a Moslem community official said Monday. The Tewhid mosque was one of two closed down after authorities found gunman Kujtim Fejzulai, who killed four […]

Austria court overturns primary school headscarf ban

December 11, 2020 Jastinder Khera

(AFP) Austria’s constitutional court on Friday struck down a law introduced last year which banned the headscarf in primary schools, saying the measure was unconstitutional and discriminatory. In a statement explaining the decision, the court said the law “contravened the principle of […]

Vienna anti-terror chief suspended after attack failures

November 6, 2020 Jastinder Khera

(AFP) The head of anti-terror operations in the Austrian capital Vienna was suspended Friday as details emerged of further security lapses in the run-up to this week’s jihadist attack which left four people dead. Erich Zwettler, the head of Vienna’s anti-terror agency, […]

Austria shuts down mosque after Vienna terror attack Islamic association frequented by the gunman was also closed.

November 6, 2020 Laurenz Gehrke

(Politico) Austrian authorities have shut down a mosque and an Islamic association frequented by the man who killed four people in a terror attack in Vienna earlier this week. Integration Minister Susanne Raab and Interior Minister Karl Nehammer announced the closure of […]

Austria’s Hofer draws fire for claiming ‘Quran more dangerous than corona’

June 18, 2020 Unlisted Author

(Daily Sabah) Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) chief Norbert Hofer said during an election rally Tuesday that the Quran was more dangerous than the coronavirus, drawing fire from the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) and the Islamic Religious Community in Austria […]

Survey: Nearly half of Austrians want Muslims’ rights restricted

September 27, 2019 Unlisted Author

(Novinite) Nearly half of Austrians are of the opinion that Muslims should not have the same rights as them, according to a study released yesterday by the University of Salzburg, a few days before the parliamentary elections. 45 percent of those surveyed […]

Austria: Proposed headscarf ban receives condemnation Former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz proposes to ban headscarf in secondary schools as election promise

September 12, 2019 Askin Kiyagan

(Anadolu) Austrians have reacted to former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s proposed headscarf ban as an election promise as political fever before the Sept. 29 general elections is running high in the country. Kurz, chairman of the Austrian People’s Party who is known for […]

Austria: Opinion leaders condemn Muslim headscarf ban Law bans headscarves for girls under age of 10 at all primary schools across country, including private schools

May 22, 2019 Askin Kiyagan

(Anadolu) Opinion leaders say the ban in Austria on religious headscarves in primary schools is clearly discriminatory against Muslims and contradicts with the principles of equality and freedom of religion. The bill, which was passed in Austria’s parliament on May 15 and […]

Vienna mayor condemns racism, anti-religious sentiment Michael Ludwig says people in Austria should stand together against anti-Muslim agitation

May 15, 2019 Askin Kiyagan

(Anadolu) The mayor of Austria’s capital city of Vienna condemned racism and discrimination in the country Tuesday, calling these types of agitation against Muslims worrying. Michael Ludwig said during an iftar or fast-breaking meal in Vienna that people in Austria should stand […]

Austrian court axes decision to shut down mosques Far-right government last year decided to shut 7 mosques and expel imams

February 15, 2019 Askin Kiyagan and Handan Kazanci

(Anadolu) A court in Austria annulled a government plan to shut down six mosques belonging to the Arab community, a Muslim body said late on Thursday. In a statement, Umit Vural, head of the Islamic Religious Community of Austria (IGGO), said that […]

Muslim leader in Austria slams change to report cards 'Islam' replaced in title of elective religious courses with abbreviation for representative body for Muslim community

February 2, 2019 Askin Kiyagan

(Anadolu) A Muslim leader in Austria expressed shock Friday over a change in the title of elective courses on Islam in school report cards to “IGGO,” the abbreviation for the Islamic Religious Community of Austria. “The institution or organization that represents the […]