The Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office has now charged the 61-year-old Viennese imam with incitement in connection with two posts he published. According to APA information, the man must appear before the regional court on October 8. The former imam of the Assalam Mosque at Schöpfwerk resigned from his positions in the Arab Religious Community after his anti-Semitic statements became known.

Viennese Imam Allegedly Incited Hatred Against Jews After Hamas Terror Attack on Israel

Two posts are incriminated, which the man posted on January 9 and 15, 2024, as so-called prayers to God on Facebook, and which were read by 3,658 followers. "Oh God, punish the criminal Zionists and their supporters and scatter them. Oh God, count them and kill them all and leave not a single one of them," he proclaimed. In the second, significantly longer post, he spread, among other things: "Oh God, strengthen the Mujahideen in Gaza, guide their arrows, make their steps secure, strengthen their hearts and frighten the hearts of the Jews, the occupiers, and turn Gaza and all of Palestine into a cemetery for the Jews and those who support and fight with them."

After the posts became known, the Islamic Religious Community (IGGÖ) described these passages as an "unacceptable reaction to the Middle East conflict." A ban on activities was imposed on the accused until further notice. He remained a simple member of the IGGÖ for the time being. The IGGÖ does not recognize excommunication per se; the possibility of exclusion exists only in the case of a final conviction with a prison sentence of more than one year, it was said at the time by the IGGÖ. The Assalam Mosque is mostly frequented by people with Egyptian roots. It has been part of the IGGÖ since 2016.

(APA/Red)

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