Austria saw over 1,300 anti-Muslim attacks in 2022

By Askin Kiyagan

VIENNA (AA) - Austria saw 1,324 incidents of anti-Muslim racism and Islamophobia last year, according to a report released on Monday.

According to the 2022 Report on Anti-Muslim Racism released by the Austrian Documentation and Counseling Center for Muslims, a majority of the attacks took place on digital platforms.

The report said 15.2% of those subjected to anti-Muslim racism, verbal and physical attacks were men while well over double that, 40.2%, were women.

The figures also showed that of the online attacks, 92% were hate speech against Islam and Muslims, while 5% were incitement.

While 81.6% of the attacks were carried out on online platforms, 38.9% of them happened in various areas of social life in Austria, where some 700,000 Muslims live.

The capital Vienna saw the largest number of racist incidents with 112, said the report, stressing that these records reflect only a portion of total attacks.

Speaking to Anadolu, Selime Ture of the documentation and counseling center said that anti-Muslim racism is becoming "normal" in the Austria.

She said some "so-called academic studies" by biased institutions play a key role in this rising trend.

Ture added that an admission of the Islamophobia problem is badly needed, as it is denied in Austrian politics.