Austria court annuls government plan to close 6 mosques

A court in Austria annulled a government plan to shut down six mosques belonging to the Arab community, a Muslim body said.

A court in Austria annulled a government plan to shut down six mosques belonging to the Arab community, a Muslim body said.

In a statement, Umit Vural, head of the Islamic Religious Community of Austria (IGGO), said that the Vienna court annulled the government’s decision to close six mosques.

He added that courts have an important role to play in a period when populism is dominant.

Last year, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s far-right government in Austria decided to shut seven mosques and expel tens of imams.

During a news conference, Kurz said the move came as part of a crackdown on alleged “political Islam”.

Kurz said that the investigation by the Ministry of Culture and Interior had found the activities of seven mosques allegedly “unlawful”.