NGO Report Warns of Rising Anti-Muslim Racism in Austria
NGO Report Warns of Rising Anti-Muslim Racism in Austria
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Anti-Muslim racism in Austria has reached its highest recorded level, according to a new report by the Documentation and Counselling Centre for Anti-Muslim Racism.
The organization’s 11th annual report, titled Not an Isolated Case, but a System, documented 1,684 incidents, the highest figure since the centre was founded in 2014. The cases included a suspected anti-Muslim murder, though the report did not provide further details.
The NGO said the figures likely represent only part of the problem, as many cases go unreported. It warned that anti-Muslim racism in Austria is no longer limited to isolated hate crimes, but reflects structural discrimination rooted in institutions, politics, media, health care and the legal system.
According to the report, media content accounted for 33 percent of documented cases, while political communication made up 27.1 percent. The organization linked the trend to public debates on migration, security, extremism and proposals such as a headscarf ban for girls under 14.
The report said Muslim women are particularly affected. It cited data showing that 87 percent of religion-related discrimination cases reported to the Equal Treatment Commissioner involved Muslims or people perceived as Muslim, 90 percent of them women.
The centre called for official recognition of anti-Muslim racism as a social problem, expanded independent counselling services and stronger anti-discrimination measures in public institutions.
