Report Warns: Islamism is Spreading in Austria

Global political events are increasingly being used by Islamist groups in Austria to polarize society. This is one of the findings of the new annual report from the Documentation Center for Political Islam (DPI), which was presented on Thursday. According to the report, Islamist influence is becoming more pragmatic, networked, and visible in public spaces.

Islamists in Austria strategically use global politics

Islamist groups unite against the perceived enemy of Western, secular society and use global political events to polarize society, according to DPI Director Lisa Fellhofer. "There is an increasing interconnection between events that happen, for example, in the Middle East, and then have immediate effects on Austria and Europe."

Transnational extremist networks are one of the biggest challenges, according to Deputy DPI Director Ferdinand Haberl. "Actors use propaganda, disinformation, and ideological mobilization to destabilize democracies."

Western society as a common enemy

Moreover, it has been observed in recent years that there is an ideological interconnection between various organizations and networks. "Alliances of convenience are formed," said Fellhofer. Islamist groups of different ideological backgrounds would pragmatically ally with other organizations temporarily. "The common enemy image is the western, secular society," explained the DPI director.

There has been another increase in social media activities. Salafist influencers are increasingly using emotionally charged and anti-western language to reach young people in particular, said the head of the scientific advisory board of the DPI, Mouhanad Khorchide. Salafist propaganda is not always apparent, also because influencers appear less traditionally. They would offer young people an identity and "a compass" under the guise of "Islam," but would only scratch the surface theologically. The content often does not align with Islam.

However, online activities are also increasingly connected to and visible in the real world, said Fellhofer. Islamist actors would organize network meetings and "demonstrations against the supposed oppression and discrimination in the West." The activities would be filmed and shared online. The sale of products such as clothing and books is also part of the strategy, as well as spraying graffiti and distributing posters and stickers.

FPÖ identifies "Total Failure"

FPÖ security spokesman Gernot Darmann interpreted the annual report via a press release as an "alarming confirmation of the total failure of the black-red-pink-green system parties." It documents "in black and white how Islamist hate preachers, their networks, and followers infiltrate the real and virtual world in Austria." This is "the direct result of decades of open border policies for culturally alien 'new migrants'," said Darmann in a press release.

(APA/Red)

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