A new study conducted in Austria has revealed that 41 percent of young Muslims agree with the statement that their religious beliefs take precedence over the country's laws. The report, which examines religious attitudes among young people, was commissioned by the City of Vienna and is based on interviews with 1,200 individuals aged between 14 and 21.
Key Findings
Researchers also discovered that 46 percent of the young Muslims interviewed believed people should be prepared to 'fight and die,' as reported by Austrian newspaper Heute. Furthermore, 65 percent stated that Islamic rules should apply strictly to all aspects of daily life.
Political Reactions
Responding to the study, Nico Marchetti, General Secretary of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), described the findings as painting a 'devastating picture' and insisted they must serve as a 'clear warning signal.' He stated: 'If 41 percent of young Muslims place Islamic precepts above our laws, then that is a situation we cannot accept. Anyone who comes to us must adapt and become part of our society.' Marchetti added: 'Austria must not and will not become a caliphate. Anyone who rejects these principles has no place in our country.'
The findings also prompted a strong reaction from Austria's right-wing opposition party, the FPÖ. Politician Harald Vilimsky commented on X: 'We've been warning about this for decades. Got insulted and slandered for it. Now Sharia is entrenched in Europe.' Vienna's FPÖ leader Dominik Nepp called the results 'an alarm signal for the whole of Austria' and attributed the situation to decades of failed migration and integration policies under the city's Social Democratic leadership.
Background
Islam is the largest minority religion in Austria, practiced by 8.3 percent of the total population as of 2021, according to Austria's Federal Statistics Office. There has been fierce political debate regarding Muslims in recent years over integration, security concerns, and restrictive legislation targeting Islamic culture.
Headscarf Ban
Last year, Austria's lower house of parliament passed a ban on Muslim headscarves in schools for girls under 14. The ban, proposed by the ruling coalition of three centrist parties, was also backed by the far-right Freedom Party, which alone called for it to apply to school staff as well. The only party to oppose the proposed ban was the smallest in parliament, the Greens, arguing it violates the constitution.
Rights groups have criticized the plan. Amnesty International stated it would 'add to the current racist climate towards Muslims.' The body that officially represents Austria's Muslims has called it an infringement of fundamental rights. However, Yannick Shetty, the parliamentary leader of the liberal Neos, the most junior party in the ruling coalition, told the lower house: 'This is not about restricting freedom, but about protecting the freedom of girls up to 14.'
