Austria launches ‘Map of Islam’, thought to have sparked chaos and commotion

FAULT – Government Austria has been heavily criticized for launching an “Islamic map” showing the locations of mosques and Islamic associations across the country.

Religious groups say the map will stigmatize Austria’s Muslim population.

Earlier, Austrian Integration Minister Susanne Raab launched a website called the “Islamic National Map” with the names and locations of more than 600 mosques, various associations and officials and their possible links abroad.

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But the interactive map, compiled in collaboration with the University of Vienna and the Center for Documentation of Political Islam, worries many Austrian Muslims.

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The coalition partner of the ruling centre-right OeVP party, the Greens, has also distanced itself from the government’s policy of launching the map.

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“This shows the government’s real intention to stigmatize all Muslims as a potential danger,” the IGGOe Muslim Representative Council said in a statement.

Green Party spokeswoman for integration Faika El-Nagashi complained about the government’s decision.

“No Green Party ministers or MPs were involved or even informed about it. This project mixes Muslims with Islamists and goes against the proper integration policy,” said Faika El-Nagashi.

Raab insisted the map was not meant to “suspect Muslims in general.”

“The aim is to fight political ideology, not religion,” Raab said.

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