Austria Closes Mosques and I Can’t Drink Beer In My Local Restaurant
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Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of Austria has ordered the closing of seven mosques and the investigation of dozens of, primarily, Turkish Imams to establish whether they can remain in the country, citing suspected violations of an Austrian law that bans “political Islam” or foreign financing of Muslim institutions.
Chancellor Kurz went on to say:
“Parallel societies, political Islam and radicalization have no place in our country.”
Six of the seven mosques are being closed on suspicion of links to Islamic extremism. They are run by an organisation called the Arab Religious Community, which the government has also ordered to be shut down.
The seventh mosque affected is a separate case. It is to be closed on suspicion of links to the Grey Wolves, a far-Right Turkish nationalist group.
The move comes after images emerged earlier this year of children as young as four being made to wear Turkish army uniforms and salute the Turkish flag inside the mosque in Vienna.
Two Imams have received deportation orders, and another 60 are under investigation and could face expulsion along with their family members.
A spokesman for Turkish President Erdogan said:
“Austria’s decision to close seven mosques and expel Imams is a reflection of the Islamophobic, racist and discriminatory wave in this country. It is an attempt to target Muslim communities for the sake of scoring cheap political points.”
Oh no, it isn’t – as it is still pantomime season, you are welcome to retort “Oh yes it is” 🙂
It isn’t being done for Islamophobic reasons nor, I suspect, to score political points. Mind you, the political points thing might have some truth in it given the way so many politicians behave I suppose.
Regardless, it is quite right for a government to protect its country and its nation’s values if it perceives they are coming under threat.
Fundamentalist religions have no more place in western liberal democracies than terrorists from other ideologies. Removing them, preferably from the country rather than merely locking them up, is both sensible and justifiable.
We in Blighty have our fair share of fundamentalist Islam. I have often wondered where all the Muslims who formerly marched through London with their ‘Islam is going to dominate the world’ and ‘Sharia law for Britain’ banners have gone. They certainly weren’t rounded up and deported.
My local Bangladeshi restaurant’s owner told me an alarming story quite recently. It had been a number of years since we had eaten in the restaurant, as our home town is not particularly conducive to a safe night out. However, we have continued to use them regularly for delivery ‘take away’ meals. We have known the owner for nearly 25 years.
“I think we might actually dine in,” I said as he delivered our meal one evening – he often delivers to us himself as he knows us so well. Nice chap.
“I’m afraid we no longer have an alcohol license,” he said, clearly aware of my penchant for quaffing ample beer.
He then explained why.
A group of ‘representatives’ from the local mosque turned up one evening and suggested that, as he and all of the staff are Muslims, they should not serve alcohol nor allow it to be consumed on the premises.
He politely explained that, as a business catering for all, he would continue catering for all.
They then reminded him of a couple of restaurants, not unlike his that had burned down along with both the owners and some members of staff spending some time hospitalized.
Whilst they were not foolish enough to make a direct threat, it was pretty obvious to him what the consequences would be if he didn’t obey their demands.
I asked him why he didn’t go to the police. He replied that, firstly, he couldn’t prove what they had said and, secondly, he doubted the police would give him, all his staff and his business 24-hour protection which, he insisted, would be required if he traveled that route.
We continue to support his business by using their services for delivery meals thus allowing me to quaff away quite happily.
Disgraceful? Certainly. Surprising? Not at all.
Well done Austria. Perhaps we will one day have a government with the guts to follow your lead and remove these potential threats from our shores.
Then my friend can run his business as he sees fit and not be cowed by “Parallel societies, political Islam and radicalization” as they certainly “have no place in our country.”
In Case You Missed It: An Englishman is Vexed By A Global Clash of Cultures
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I have to remember the loud and angry protests about “Obama’s Mosque” I still have some JPEGs posted on Facebook and elsewhere. “Stand up against Obama’s Mosque” with all kinds of pictures of mosques and Obama in costume.
There never was one of course, but as it fades from memory, the hate remains and grows stronger.
But it’s hard to know how much is real and how much is hyperbole. Dressing up in the uniform of a foreign army is a bit worrisome when that foreign country has a history and mixing religion with revolutionary exercises isn’t legitimate exercise of religious liberty. I wouldn’t expect it to be tolerated here – and we have had it here too.
Jess is right. The Austrian Chancellor is right wing – I seem to recall another Chancellor with Austrian antecedents who was a wee bit like that…now who was it?
That being said, given the evidence of what has been happening over there I don’t think his politics really enter into it?
Shirley : I think Trump is an asshole. Savvy?
Jess : Yes. The Chancellor is, I believe, right wing. However, the evidence the Austrians have shown somewhat negates political wings doesn’t it?
Didn’t Austria just vote in a far right government like Trump is that wanted all Muslims gone or am I thinking about somewhere else? Apparently we don’t learn from our history, some of us.
You do, and you like Trump Norman.
Turkey may be a member of NATO but it needs to start behaving like one. Nato needs to step up to the task of enforcing More democratic principles. Of course we here in the U.S. might well become a target as well as long as we have an Orangutan as a leader, (Sorry, I did not mean to dis on a fellow member of the great ape species. I doubt that they would recognize Trump as a member of the great apes).
Oi!! I like Orangutans!!! 😉
History is repeating itself. In the 1600s the Austrian Empire led a coalition and defeated the Ottoman Turks in the Battle of Vienna.
The leader for life president of Turkey has been making military noises lately. He campaigned for the presidency in Austria and Germany. Perhaps Turkey wants its empire back. Populism in the West and in Muslim countries sounds like disaster.
History always seems to repeat itself one way or another. Disastrous indeed!
The Mosque closings are significant, and I doubt it is something Austria would do without ample evidence of subversive activity. As to your restaurant, I had actually read about this sort of intimidation throughout Europe. This is a problem that isn’t going away anytime soon.
It would if our government had the guts to do something about it!