US embassy cable - 05VIENNA2437

UNCLAS VIENNA 002437 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, PHUM, PGOV, AU 
SUBJECT: DEBATE ON AUSTRIAN MUSLIM COMMUNITY 
 
 
THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 
 
 
Summary 
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1.  (U) In the aftermath of the London terror attacks, 
public debate in Austria has focused on the situation of 
its Muslim community.  Interior Ministry officials stress 
that there are only a few radical elements in the 
community and that the GoA is closely monitoring 
extremist elements.  The official representation of 
Muslims in Austria, the "Islamic Religious Community" 
(IGG) maintains that "98 percent of mosques" follow the 
IGG's course.  End Summary. 
 
 
View from the Interior Ministry 
------------------------------- 
2.  (U) Commenting on the threat level in Austria, 
Interior Ministry (MoI) officials emphasized that there 
are a few radicals in the Islamic Community.  However, 
the MoI said that it is closely monitoring these 
individuals and groups.  The MoI maintained that there 
are "fewer than five mosques" where radical Imams are 
active. 
 
 
View from the Muslim Community 
------------------------------ 
3.  (U) During a July 14 television interview, Omar al- 
Rawi, spokesman for the IGG, claimed that there are four 
mosques in Austria where "radical views" exist.  IGG 
President Anas Schakfeh noted that "98 percent" of 
mosques followed the IGG's course.  He admitted a small 
group of radical Imams did not cooperate with the IGG. 
Schakfeh noted that the IGG works closely with the MoI in 
regards to extremist activity in the Muslim community. 
Public Director for Security Erik Buxbaum said that 
cooperation with the IGG in this area was satisfactory. 
 
4.  (U) Al-Rawi also called on the Muslim community to 
take action and adopt preventive measures against 
terrorism.  Al-Rawi referred to an April 24 declaration 
from a group of Austrian imams, which clearly distanced 
the community from extremism and exhorted Muslims to 
focus on mutual respect, tolerance and rejection of 
terrorism.  Nevertheless, al-Rawi called on the community 
to be more proactive.  A simple condemnation of terrorist 
attacks is not sufficient. 
 
 
View from Chancellor Schuessel 
------------------------------ 
5.  (U) In a July 16 interview, Chancellor Wolfgang 
Schuessel praised the GoA's intensive cooperation with 
the IGG and other religious communities.  He added that 
it is also essential to strengthen the self-cleansing 
forces within the Islamic Community.  He warned that 
there are no absolute guarantees concerning terrorism, 
but he lauded the work of security authorities and urged 
ordinary citizens to become more vigilant. 
 
 
Comment 
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6.  (SBU) The approximately 339,000 Muslims in Austria, 
representing 4.2% of the population, are Austria's second- 
largest religious group.  They come primarily from Turkey 
and the former Yugoslavia.  The Muslim faith is among the 
13 recognized religious societies, and has had this 
status since 1912.  Due to this status, the Muslim 
community has an official representation, the IGG, which 
is the GoA's partner on issues of cooperation.  Despite a 
positive relationship between the GoA and the Muslim 
Community, and the community's overall moderate 
orientation, Austrian intelligence officials have 
publicly warned that several extremist organizations and 
movements are also represented through individual 
activists in Austria.  There have been numerous media 
stories on this issue, but no reported incidents of 
backlash violence against Muslims. 
 
BROWN