The president of the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGO), Umit Vural, has called for an apology from Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner of Lower Austria after her controversial remarks about Islam. The comments, made during an interview on Sunday evening with the public broadcaster ORF, have sparked outrage among Austria’s Muslim community.
Mikl-Leitner, a member of the Austrian People’s Party (OVP), spoke against the idea of holding new elections in Austria, stating, “People have no sympathy for new elections, and you also have to bear in mind that we are in an extremely challenging time, where it is important to take very concrete measures for economic recovery as well as in the fight against Islam.”
Her statement, which appeared to link the fight for economic recovery with the “fight against Islam,” was widely criticized for its anti-Islamic sentiment. In response, Umit Vural condemned Mikl-Leitner’s remarks as discriminatory and inflammatory. “I wonder whether Ms. Mikl-Leitner’s statement is a slip of the tongue. If this is the case, I expect a clear and unequivocal clarification on behalf of the Muslims in this country,” said Vural.
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The IGGO president warned that if no clarification was issued, the remarks would constitute a dangerous overstepping of boundaries, which could defame Muslims in Austria, further fuel hatred and violence, and contribute to division within society.
Vural emphasized the dangerous impact such rhetoric could have, noting that it promotes extremist narratives that Austria, as a society, should be fighting together. He called on Mikl-Leitner, as well as all political leaders, to be more aware of their words and the responsibility that comes with their public positions.
“Anti-Muslim hostility and attacks have been on the rise for several months,” Vural stated, highlighting that the Muslim community in Austria has faced increasing threats. He also noted that the IGGO, an organization representing the interests of Muslims in Austria, had been targeted with direct threats.
In his statement, Vural urged Mikl-Leitner and other political leaders to “choose formulations that reflect responsibility instead of instrumentalizing religion for party political purposes.”
The remarks by the governor come at a time when Austria is grappling with growing tensions between different cultural and religious groups. With rising anti-Muslim sentiment in the country, many fear that divisive rhetoric will exacerbate already-existing tensions and fuel further polarization.
As of now, Governor Mikl-Leitner has not responded to the call for clarification from the IGGO, and it remains to be seen whether any official statement or apology will be issued. The controversy is likely to continue to dominate the political landscape in Austria in the coming days.
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