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HagiaSophia
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VIENNA, January 4 (IslamOnline.net) – The Muslim community in Austria shined in 2004, showing great ability to integrate smoothly into the Austrian society, making use of the official recognition of Islam as a the second state religion, allowing Muslims to defend their rights, in addition to being staunch supporters of Arab and Islamic causes.
The year 2004 started on a promising note for Austrian Muslims, with official estimates showing their number had doubled to hit 300,000, making up 4% of the 8 million population.
In 1991, the Austrian Muslim community made only 2% of the total population.
The 2004 statistics showed Muslims highly concentrated in the western Austrian city of Freiburg, making up 8.4% of the total population in the area. The capital Vienna came second, with Muslims making up to 7.8% of its population.
Islam, which was officially acknowledged in Austria in 1912, is considered the second religion in the country after Catholicism.
…"
"…In addition to being an example of social integration, the Austrian Muslim community was no less active in the support of Arab and Islamic issues, primarily the Palestinian and Iraqi causes.
In this respect, several peaceful marches were organized by the Muslim community to highlight support for the two Arab nations under occupation.
On March 20, thousands of Austrians took part in a rally in central Vienna to condemn the “imperialistic campaigns” in Palestine and Iraq, calling for establishing peace around the globe.
The Muslim community in Austria also condemned the Israeli assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
…"
Good Relations
The year 2004 also ended on two good notes for the Muslim community in Austria, manifested in two meetings with the Austrian President Heinz Fischer that highlighted the privileges Austrian Muslims enjoy, compared to other Muslim communities in Europe. …"
"…The picture was not all that rosy though. The Muslim community did face incidents of racist practices from rightist parties in the country, chiefly Austrian bishop Court Kreen who accused Muslims with brutality and terrorism, warning against flooding Europe with Muslim immigrants.
Responding to the remarks, the IRA urged the Austrian bishop to respect the Vatican decisions on good relations with Islam and Muslims.
The Catholic church in Austria actually was swift in rejecting Kreen’s claims, adding it was unacceptable to associate Islam with brutality.
Copying an anti-hijab drive in some European countries, a school in the Austrian city of Leinz banned Muslim students from wearing hijab.
In response, the IRA urged the Austrian education minister to guarantee the right of Muslim students to wear hijab at schools. …"
islam-online.net/English/News/2005-01/04/article04.shtml
The year 2004 started on a promising note for Austrian Muslims, with official estimates showing their number had doubled to hit 300,000, making up 4% of the 8 million population.
In 1991, the Austrian Muslim community made only 2% of the total population.
The 2004 statistics showed Muslims highly concentrated in the western Austrian city of Freiburg, making up 8.4% of the total population in the area. The capital Vienna came second, with Muslims making up to 7.8% of its population.
Islam, which was officially acknowledged in Austria in 1912, is considered the second religion in the country after Catholicism.
…"
"…In addition to being an example of social integration, the Austrian Muslim community was no less active in the support of Arab and Islamic issues, primarily the Palestinian and Iraqi causes.
In this respect, several peaceful marches were organized by the Muslim community to highlight support for the two Arab nations under occupation.
On March 20, thousands of Austrians took part in a rally in central Vienna to condemn the “imperialistic campaigns” in Palestine and Iraq, calling for establishing peace around the globe.
The Muslim community in Austria also condemned the Israeli assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
…"
Good Relations
The year 2004 also ended on two good notes for the Muslim community in Austria, manifested in two meetings with the Austrian President Heinz Fischer that highlighted the privileges Austrian Muslims enjoy, compared to other Muslim communities in Europe. …"
"…The picture was not all that rosy though. The Muslim community did face incidents of racist practices from rightist parties in the country, chiefly Austrian bishop Court Kreen who accused Muslims with brutality and terrorism, warning against flooding Europe with Muslim immigrants.
Responding to the remarks, the IRA urged the Austrian bishop to respect the Vatican decisions on good relations with Islam and Muslims.
The Catholic church in Austria actually was swift in rejecting Kreen’s claims, adding it was unacceptable to associate Islam with brutality.
Copying an anti-hijab drive in some European countries, a school in the Austrian city of Leinz banned Muslim students from wearing hijab.
In response, the IRA urged the Austrian education minister to guarantee the right of Muslim students to wear hijab at schools. …"
islam-online.net/English/News/2005-01/04/article04.shtml
