Austria's Racism: A Country's Reputation In Question

Austria has been called racist by many people, particularly those from Black and Muslim communities. A study by the Vienna-based EU Agency for Fundamental Rights found that 72% of respondents in Austria reported experiencing discrimination based on skin colour, origin, or religion. The country has also been criticised for its lack of action against racism, with the government actively promoting anti-Muslim discourse and policies. People of colour in Austria often face microaggressions, stereotypes, and direct racism in their daily lives, and the country's citizenship rules, which are among the most restrictive in the EU, further marginalise Muslim communities.

Black people in Austria face discrimination

Austria has been called a racist country, and Black people in Austria face discrimination in their daily lives. In a country of nine million people, roughly 40,000 are Black. One Black woman shares her experience of living in Austria, a predominantly white country, and the challenges she faced due to her race.

Microaggressions and Stereotypes

The woman recounts experiencing microaggressions and stereotypes, such as being asked to rap during karaoke and being met with suspicion in stores until people heard her American accent. She also faced offensive comments and questions, such as being asked, "Where are you REALLY from?" even after telling people where she was born.

Racial Profiling and Direct Racism

Racial profiling of Black people in Austria has been on the rise. The woman shares her experience of being targeted with racist language, with someone leaning out of their car to yell a racial slur at her and her Black friend. She also observed the normalization of blackface and the lack of understanding about the impact of such practices.

Lack of Representation and Support

The woman struggled to find hair care products for textured hair and experienced cultural differences in social interactions, such as the head nod that Black people commonly share in predominantly white spaces in America. She felt isolated and longed for a sense of community.

Impact on Self-Confidence and Mental Health

The woman's experiences in Austria negatively impacted her self-confidence and mental health. She felt that she did not fit the Austrian beauty standard and cried because she hated the way she looked. She felt alone and questioned her belonging.

Coping Strategies and Community

To cope with these challenges, the woman connected with other Black individuals and teaching assistants (TAs) who could relate to her experiences. She found support and friendship through shared interests and activities, such as volleyball games, pub gatherings, and cultural exchange events.

Advocacy for Change

The woman also advocated for change by educating her colleagues and students about Black history and the inappropriateness of certain words and behaviors. However, Austria currently lacks a comprehensive action plan to address racism, and anti-racism advocates face institutional harassment and attacks.

The Austrian government promotes anti-Muslim discourse and policies

The Austrian government has been criticised for promoting anti-Muslim discourse and policies. The country's governing party, the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), has been accused of fuelling anti-Muslim racism and hate against refugees.

One notable example is the establishment of a documentation centre to monitor "political Islam". While the government claims that this measure is aimed at fighting the "dangerous ideology of political Islam" and containing extremism, critics argue that it is a veiled attempt to increase surveillance on Muslims and further marginalise Muslim civil society organisations. The centre, funded with half a million euros by the Integration Ministry, has been met with concern and scepticism, with some arguing that it will only serve to estrange Muslims from the government and state institutions.

The Austrian People's Party, in coalition with the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), has also implemented or proposed several controversial policies targeting Muslims. These include a temporary headscarf ban for girls in primary schools and teachers, a hijab ban on children in kindergarten, and the closure of mosques. Additionally, the government has proposed new security measures such as the detention of immigrants and refugees deemed potentially criminal without a court order, further contributing to an anti-Muslim sentiment.

Legal experts and NGOs have protested these policies, with the Islamic Religious Authority of Austria (IGGO) charging that the government takes a "hostile approach towards Muslims". Martha Bissman, an independent member of Austria's parliament, has expressed disappointment in the coalition government, stating that the right-wing populist incitement towards Muslims continues.

The Austrian government's actions and rhetoric have contributed to rising racial profiling and discrimination against Muslims, refugees, and Black people in the country. Despite criticism and concerns, the government persists in its anti-Muslim discourse and policies, raising questions about its commitment to combating racism and promoting equality for all religious and ethnic groups.

Racial profiling of Black and Muslim people is on the rise

Experiences of Black People in Austria

A Black woman recounts her experiences of living in Austria, a predominantly white country, and the microaggressions and racism she faced. She describes the "Where are you REALLY from?" question, which is often the first interaction she has with people, despite having already told them her place of birth. She also mentions the touching of her hair without permission and the lack of hair care products for textured hair available in drug stores.

The woman also recounts her first experience of direct racism, where someone yelled a racial slur at her and her friend from a car. She also mentions the suspicion she experienced in stores and the assumption that, as an American, she wouldn't understand German.

Institutional Racism in Austria

Austria has been criticized for its lack of an identifiable action plan against racism. The government has been accused of promoting policies and views that create a hierarchy between different types of racism and target certain racial groups over others.

The Freedom Party of Austria and the Austrian People's Party have been promoting policies and political speech that fuel anti-Muslim racism and hate against refugees. Examples include:

• A temporary headscarf ban for girls in primary schools.
• The establishment of the state-funded Documentation Center of Political Islam.
• A state-funded raid called Operation Luxor, targeting the Muslim civil society in Austria.
• The implementation of a new Anti-Terrorism Bill that is not in line with basic human rights standards.
• Racist narratives by politicians, specifically targeting Muslims.

Racial Profiling in the United States

While the focus of this text is on Austria, it is worth noting that racial profiling of Black and Muslim people is also an issue in other countries, such as the United States, especially after the 9/11 attacks. In the U.S., Muslims and people of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Arab descent became targets of government racial profiling practices, marked as presumed national security threats. This has led to increased violence, hate crimes, intimidation, and vandalism against these communities.

Austria has no identifiable anti-racism action plan

Racial profiling of Black and Muslim people, as well as refugees, has been on the rise in Austria. A study by the Vienna-based EU Agency for Fundamental Rights found that Austria had the second-highest rate of discrimination among 13 EU countries, with 72% of respondents reporting discrimination. The study also found that Black people felt most discriminated against when looking for work in Austria, with 59% of respondents reporting this.

In addition, Austria has no participatory mechanisms in place to address racism, and there are reports of institutional harassment and attacks against certain NGOs. Civil society organisations advocating for the implementation of a NAPAR face alarming levels of institutional pushback.

The impact of this political discourse has been "clear and felt deeply" by many in Austria, with consequences including arson attacks on asylum centres and police violence. The Austrian NGO ZARA – Civil Courage and Anti-Racism Work has stated that this political discourse "legitimises hate speech, discrimination, and violence, often targeting women in hijabs, asylum seekers, and Bipoc (Black, Indigenous and people of colour)".

The lack of an identifiable anti-racism action plan in Austria has allowed for the normalisation of racism in the country, with far-right parties gaining influence and shaping the discourse on immigration. This has had a direct impact on the lives of many Muslims and people of colour in Austria, who face everyday experiences of discrimination and racism.

Austrians exhibit racist behaviour towards tourists

Austria has been deemed a racist country by many, with over 1,300 racist incidents reported in the country in 2023. While 58% of these incidents took place online, 42% were perpetrated in social settings. However, the actual number of racist incidents is likely much higher, as most instances of racism go unreported.

A Black woman living in Austria recounted her experiences with racism in the country. She described feeling proud of her Blackness and African roots but also recounted moments where she felt disgusted by the looks she received from Austrians. She also faced microaggressions, such as being asked to do the rapping part of a karaoke song and people touching her hair without permission. Additionally, she was met with suspicion in stores and checkout counters until people heard her American accent while speaking German.

The Austrian government has been criticised for actively promoting anti-Muslim discourse and policies. There is also racial profiling of Black and Muslim people, as well as the refugee population in the country. Austria has no identifiable action plan to combat racism, and anti-racism advocates within civil society face institutional harassment and attacks.

Despite these concerns, Austria is actively working to combat racism and xenophobia within the country. They have strengthened protection against discrimination and hate crimes under criminal law and adopted comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation. Additionally, non-legislative measures are being taken in the fields of education, training, and awareness-raising.

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