Austrian vice official closing mosque: 'This is just the beginning!'

Austrian Vice President Heinz-Christian Strache points out that the government's decision to expel the imams and close the seven mosques, as well as ban the work of an Islamic religious association - just the beginning

He, in an interview with the Vienna daily "Osttereich", said that it must continue to act against the violations of the law by radical Islam on its own. "There are certainly many organizations and hidden cultural associations that violate the law of Islam and against which they should act consistently," Strache said. If there are associations and institutions that do not encompass the Law on Islam, then it has to be analyzed, Strache believes.

He rejects the criticism that the government acted during the time of Ramadan and just before the presidential election in Turkey, saying it should have acted two years ago, but that did not happen. "Now it's not a tactic of taking into account some events, but there is a need for action," says Strache. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that Turkey will not "sit the crossed arms" on what is happening in Austria.

The head of the ruling club of the ruling Liberal Party of Austria (FPO) Johan Gudenus replied that "Austria will definitely not allow such a thing". "Erdogan's statements show that Turkey wants to influence the policies of European countries. Austria will certainly not allow this, and the Austrian government is definitely responsible for the security of our country and the application of Austrian laws "- Goudenus responded to the public. He told the Islamic Religious Community in Austria that law enforcement does not look at Ramadan or other holidays, but decisions made by independent institutions.

On Friday, the Austrian government imposed measures to expel the imams, which were found to be financially financed from abroad, as well as the closure of mosques spreading to the salafist ideology.

• 12 Jun, 2018
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