Lyla Lindsey
In 2018, Austria's right-wing government announced plans to shut down seven mosques and expel dozens of foreign-funded imams. The move was part of a crackdown on political Islam and foreign funding of religious groups, which the government claimed was necessary to prevent the formation of parallel societies and to restrict immigration. This decision sparked controversy, with some critics labeling it Islamophobic and discriminatory towards Muslim women who wear religious face veils. The expulsions and closures were also met with opposition from Turkey, which condemned the actions as racist and warned of a potential holy war between Christianity and Islam.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason | Crackdown on political Islam and foreign funding of religious groups |
| Number of imams to be expelled | 40 or dozens or up to 60 |
| Organisations | Turkish-Islamic Union for Cultural and Social Cooperation in Austria (ATIB) |
| Turkish-Islamic Cultural Associations (ATIB) | |
| Turkish-Islamic Cultural Associations (ATIB) organisation, a branch of Turkey's religious affairs agency Diyanet | |
| Turkish nationalist youth group "Grey Wolves" | |
| Arab Muslim group | |
| Arab Religious Community | |
| Number of mosques to be shut down | 7 |
| Countries involved | Turkey |
| Germany | |
| Hungary | |
| Slovakia | |
| Czech Republic | |
| Poland |
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What You'll Learn
Austria's right-wing government
In 2018, Austria's right-wing government announced plans to shut down seven mosques and expel dozens of imams, claiming it was just the beginning of a push against radical Islam and foreign funding of religious groups. The government, a coalition of conservatives and the far-right, came to power after Europe's migration crisis, promising to restrict immigration and benefits for new immigrants and refugees. This move was criticized by Turkey as racist and Islamophobic.
The Freedom Party (FPÖ) has its roots in Austria's post-World War II history, when former Nazis regained positions of power. The party's first leader, Anton Reinthaller, was a former Nazi Minister of Agriculture and SS officer. While the FPÖ initially presented itself as a centrist party, it gradually moved towards right-wing populism under the leadership of Jörg Haider in the late 1980s. This shift resulted in increased electoral support but also limited its ability to form coalitions with other parties.
In recent years, the FPÖ has continued to gain support, with a significant increase in votes in the 2024 legislative election. However, the party has struggled to form a coalition government, with failed attempts to negotiate with the ÖVP and other parties. Despite its popularity, the FPÖ has faced criticism for its far-right and Russia-friendly stance, as well as its Eurosceptic views.
In addition to the FPÖ, Austria's right-wing landscape includes Chancellor Kurz's conservative People's Party (ÖVP), which has formed coalitions with both the FPÖ and the Greens. Kurz has pursued a right-wing agenda on immigration and has been criticized for his hardline stance on Muslim immigration and integration. While the ÖVP has been critical of the FPÖ's connections to Russia, it has also been accused of playing power games and refusing to compromise during coalition negotiations.
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Foreign-funded imams
In 2018, Austria's right-wing government announced its plans to shut down seven "political" mosques and expel dozens of foreign-funded imams. The move was part of a crackdown on "political Islam" and foreign funding of religious groups. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz stated that "radical Islam" and "parallel societies" had no place in the country. Austria's coalition government, an alliance of conservatives and the far-right, came to power after Europe's migration crisis, promising to restrict immigration and benefits for new immigrants and refugees.
The decision to expel the imams was not without controversy. Turkey, which had links to many of the affected mosques and imams, strongly condemned the move as "Islamophobic, racist, and discriminatory." Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, took to Twitter to express his disapproval, stating that Austria's practices were in violation of universal legal principles, social integration policies, minority rights, and the ethics of co-existence.
The Austrian government's actions were not isolated to just Turkey-funded mosques and imams. The government also targeted an organisation called the Arab Religious Community, which was accused of promoting pro-jihadist doctrines and having ties to Islamic State and Al Qaeda. Six of the mosques slated for closure were run by this community, with three in Vienna, two in Upper Austria, and one in Carinthia.
The Austrian government's stance on Islam and immigration has caused friction with other countries and within its own borders. In neighbouring Germany, police have been investigating links between certain imams and the Turkish state. Additionally, Austria's position has created tension with Germany, which accepted a large number of Muslim asylum seekers in 2015. Within Austria itself, activists and experts labelled the law as Islamophobic, arguing that it discriminated against Muslim women who wore religious face veils.
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Political Islam
In 2018, Austria's right-wing government announced plans to shut down seven "political" mosques and expel dozens of imams, citing concerns over foreign funding of religious groups and radical Islam. This move was justified as a way to enforce the '"Law on Islam", passed in 2015, which banned foreign funding of religious organisations and required Muslim groups to have a "positive fundamental view" of the Austrian state. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz stated that "political Islam's parallel societies and radicalising tendencies have no place in our country".
The decision to close these mosques and expel the imams was met with strong opposition, with some claiming it was ""Islamophobic, racist and discriminatory". Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, criticised the new policy, arguing that the Austrian government's practices violated "universal legal principles, social integration policies, minority rights and the ethics of co-existence".
Austria has a significant Muslim population, with around 600,000 Muslim inhabitants, most of whom are Turkish or of Turkish origin. The majority of Muslims in Austria belong to the Sunni denomination, and many arrived during the 1960s as migrant workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia. There are also communities of Arab and Afghan origin. Historically, Muslims have had a presence in Austria dating back to nomadic tribes from Asia that entered the region in 895.
The Austrian government's decision to target these mosques and imams can be understood within the context of broader political and social tensions. The coalition government, an alliance of conservatives and the far-right, came to power following Europe's migration crisis, and made promises to restrict immigration and benefits for new immigrants and refugees. There has also been friction between Austria and other Central European countries, such as Hungary and Poland, over their shared desire to limit Muslim immigration to Europe. Additionally, Austria's relations with Turkey have been strained due to disagreements over immigration policies and Turkey's EU membership negotiations.
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Turkish nationalists
In 2018, the Austrian government announced its decision to shut down seven 'political' mosques and expel dozens of imams, citing concerns about foreign funding of religious groups and radical Islam. This move was met with strong opposition from Turkey, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, labelling it "Islamophobic, racist and discriminatory".
The decision to expel the imams is part of a broader push by the Austrian government against what it perceives as a threat to its values and security. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who has been critical of Turkey's EU membership negotiations, has stated that "political Islam's parallel societies and radicalising tendencies have no place in our country". The Austrian government has also been working with a Muslim community body, IGGÖ, to identify mosques and imams suspected of radical Islamist or nationalist connections.
The specific incident that triggered the expulsions was the emergence of images showing children in Turkish army uniforms re-enacting the World War One Battle of Gallipoli. This incident caused concern among Austrian authorities, who suspected links between these imams and Turkish nationalists. The Austrian government's investigation revealed that 60 out of 260 imams in the country were being funded by Turkey through the Diyanet organisation, with 40 belonging to ATIB, a Muslim group close to the Turkish government.
The decision to expel the imams has had significant implications for Austrian-Turkish relations, which have been deteriorating in recent years. Turkey, a full-fledged NATO member, has sought to expand immigration into Europe while also requesting EU funds for housing. In contrast, Austria, which is not a NATO member, has taken a harder line on immigration and has sought to restrict benefits for new immigrants. Chancellor Kurz's stance on limiting ties with Turkey further exacerbated tensions, leading to Turkey's veto of NATO cooperation with Austria.
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Discrimination against Muslim women
In 2018, the Austrian government announced plans to shut down seven mosques and expel dozens of imams, including 60 belonging to the Turkish-Islamic Union for Cultural and Social Cooperation in Austria (ATIB). This decision was based on a 2015 law that banned foreign funding of religious groups and required Muslim organisations to demonstrate a "positive fundamental view" of the Austrian state and society. The government stated that these measures aimed to combat ""political Islam" and the influence of radical ideologies.
While these reforms were intended to promote integration and religious freedom for Muslims in Austria, they have also been criticised as discriminatory and Islamophobic. Some have expressed concern that the focus on foreign financing restricts the integration of Muslim communities and limits their religious freedoms. Furthermore, the law's impact on Muslim women is particularly noteworthy, as it intersects with existing discrimination and Islamophobia faced by Muslim women in Austria.
Muslim women in Austria have been subjected to various forms of discrimination and negative stereotypes. Public debates often centre around women's clothing, such as the burqa and headscarves, which are perceived as symbols of cultural incompatibility or oppression. In 2017, a controversial law was passed, banning the wearing of burqas in public, despite only a small minority of women in the country wearing the full-face veil. This law contributes to the perception that Muslim women who adhere to certain forms of religious expression are incompatible with Austrian society.
Additionally, Muslim women in Austria have faced challenges in education and employment. Negative stereotypes and prejudice against Muslim women can lead to discrimination in schools, universities, and the workplace. They may face barriers to equal opportunities and be subjected to unfair assumptions about their capabilities or willingness to integrate. Furthermore, Muslim women who choose to wear religious attire, such as headscarves, may encounter additional obstacles due to the visibility of their religious identity.
The expulsion of imams and the broader context of Islamophobia in Austria can exacerbate these existing challenges for Muslim women. It reinforces a narrative of cultural incompatibility and contributes to an environment where Muslim women may feel further marginalised and targeted. The impact of these measures on the religious, social, and economic lives of Muslim women warrants careful consideration and ongoing efforts to promote equality and inclusion.
It is important to recognise that Muslim women are not a homogeneous group, and their experiences vary based on individual factors such as ethnicity, class, and personal beliefs. However, addressing discrimination against Muslim women in Austria requires a multifaceted approach that challenges negative stereotypes, ensures equal opportunities in education and employment, and guarantees religious freedom and cultural expression without fear of persecution.
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Frequently asked questions
The Austrian government expelled imams in 2018 as part of a crackdown on "political Islam" and foreign funding of religious groups.
The Austrian government said it could expel up to 60 imams and their families.
In April 2018, images emerged showing children in Turkish army uniforms re-enacting the World War One Battle of Gallipoli. The Austrian government also suspected some mosques of having links to Turkish nationalists.
