Islamophobia on the rise in Austria

By Askin Kiyagan

VIENNA (AA) - Islamophobic attacks in Austria increased significantly compared to last year, according to a report published by an organization in Austria.

A total of 309 attacks against Muslims in 2017 rose by 74 percent to 540 in 2018, according to the Anti-Muslim Racism Report 2018 released by Dokustelle, an organization that documents cases of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism.

Attacks against Muslim women account for 83 percent of the total number of Islamophobic attacks in Austria, according to the report.

Most of the racist attacks were carried out on digital media with 53 percent, the report said.

This rate was 31 percent in public places, five percent in educational institutions and three percent in working life, it added.