Kunwar Khuldune Shahid

Austria’s ‘Islam map’ is dangerous

Muslims gather for Friday prayers in Vienna (Getty Images)

Austria’s government has unveiled a map detailing the locations of mosques and other Muslim associations all over the country. The publication has been swiftly condemned by Austrian Muslim groups, including the Muslim Youth Organisation which announced a lawsuit in response. But Austria’s government is so far refusing to back down. 

The ‘Islam map’ is a project of the government-backed Political Islam Documentation Centre and the University of Vienna. The map has been designed ostensibly in response to growing Islamist radicalism in Austria, especially in the aftermath of November’s Vienna shooting. It marks a continuation of chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s self-proclaimed fight against ‘political Islam’. But whatever the intention, the map is unlikely to do much other than to ensure Austrian Muslims feel disaffected and potentially puts them in danger.

The Austrian government seems unable to grasp nuance

Integration minister Susanne Raab disagrees. Raab insists the map will ‘contribute to transparency in observing dangerous developments in political Islam’, maintaining that the government does not intend to ‘place Muslims under general suspicion’. But is that really a credible explanation for a move which is likely to alienate, rather than help integrate, Muslims?

Like other parts of the world, including in many Muslim-majority countries, Austria has spotted a connection between jihadist terror and the Islamist teachings echoed in some mosques and Islamic schools. There is little doubt that the new ‘parallel societies’ in Europe are indeed breeding grounds for jihadist violence. A counterterror strategy to deal with these is vital. 

But if extremism is to be properly tackled, there needs to be an understanding of the distinction between Islamists —anyone seeking to impose a version of Islam on the society at large — and Muslims— those born into a Muslim community or those who believes in Islam. Austria’s government seems unable to grasp this nuance.

Ednan Aslan, head of the ‘Islam map’ project, has said

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