by Jules Gomes, Middle East Forum
Chancellor’s Party Had Previously Voted Down Resolution to Ban Islamism
Austria’s ruling coalition, led by the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) under Chancellor Christian Stocker, is seeking to ban “political Islam” after reversing its position and adopting a resolution proposed by the opposition FPÖ (Freedom Party of Austria) that it had previously opposed.
“If Islam is interpreted in a political sense, it is incompatible with our democracy and our Western values,” Stocker told the Austrian newspaper Heute on August 28. “We uphold freedom of religion—everyone can believe what they want and practice their faith. But when religion is used politically, we must oppose it with the utmost resolve.”
If ‘political Islam’ is used as a synonym for Islamism, it therefore needs to be clearly defined.”
Yana Grinshpun
“I am therefore in favor of banning political Islam through a constitutional law,” Stocker announced. “We are a center-right party. What we stand for: anyone who comes to Austria must respect the rules that apply here and contribute to society.”
“I am saying quite clearly: I do not want our children and grandchildren to grow up in an Islamic state,” the Chancellor later posted on X. “Just as we protect the practice of religion, we must also protect our democracy.”
Following pushback over the recent ban on headscarves in Austrian schools, Stocker noted that Muslims already dominated Vienna’s schools. “Will these girls and boys grow up to be democrats who accept, uphold, and live within our legal order and our society? Or will they become Islamist and politically influenced? I want them to become democrats,” he noted.
Announcing that she would draft a proposal for coalition partners, Claudia Bauer, Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Family, backed Stocker, noted: “I don’t want anyone in Austria who’s free to spread radical ideologies, undermine our society, and wants to turn the state into a caliphate. The current legal situation isn’t enough.”