It is only a phobia if the fear is irrational. Bruce http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2006-09/14/06.shtml
Islamophobia Colors Austria Electioneering By Ahmed Al-Matboli, IOL Correspondent Baghajati accused right-wing parties of political bankruptcy. VIENNA Islamophobia is coloring the election campaigns of right-leaning parties, vying to court the votes of anti-immigrant voters in the October parliamentary polls. "Far-right candidates play Islamophobia and xenophobia because they do not have real political programs," Tarafa Baghajati, Deputy Chairman of the European Network Against Racism (ENAR <http://www.enar-eu.org/en/t_blank> ), told IslamOnline.net. "They tell some Austrians just what they want to hear to woo their votes," he added. Baghajati asserted that efforts should not be wasted on such parties but rather focused on battling racism culturally and intellectually. "Even the issue of immigration and its pros and cons should be addressed from a practical point of view, taking into consideration the needs and interests of Austria." Amid the aggressive campaigns, an explosive charge was planted outside the Austrian Muslim Youth (MJO) building in Vienna on Monday, but it was destroyed in a controlled explosion. A neo-Nazi slogan found on the package read "July 4 1926, Weimar" an apparent reference to a key meeting that allowed Hitler to increase his control over the Nazi party. Muslims in the south-central European country are estimated at 400,000, making up 4% of the 8 million population. There are some 120,000 Muslims in Vienna alone with 50,000 of whom holding Austrian citizenship. Anti-Muslims The FPÖ campaign ad says Austria must be a social state not a country of immigrants. In pamphlets widely circulated in the streets and election booths, the Freedom Party (FPÖ) dismisses Islam as a threat to the Christian identity of Austria. It claims that several parties, which it did not name, were trying to Islamize Europe and render its natives a minority in their own countries. One of the FPÖ ads replaces the cross atop the famous Stephens Cathedral in Vienna, the oldest church in the country, with an Islamic crescent with the comment: "This is the true hidden desire of Muslims." Another one shows a group of hijab-clad woman with a comment that Austria must be a social state not a country of immigrants. The xenophobic party always portrays hijab as a major freedom restrictor. The FPÖ, which is often associated with Jörg Haider who headed the party from 1986-2001, was founded in 1955 and adopts strict anti-immigration and liberal rules. The Austrian Muslim-Christian forum appealed to all parties to steer clear of smear campaigns. It stressed that religious minorities should be dealt with on the basis of mutual respect. The forum, which brings together 1500 artists, intellectuals and politicians, asserted that the vast majority of Muslims proved over the past years a readiness and willingness to integrate. A report had acknowledged in 2004 that the Muslim minority has fared well <http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2005-01/04/article04.shtml> showing great ability to integrate smoothly into Austrian society. Islam, which was officially acknowledged in Austria in 1912, is considered the second religion in the country after Catholicism. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
