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Austrian Muslim groups criticized the government for marking the locations of mosques and Islamic associations across the country on the map.
According to Austrian media reports, a major Austrian Muslim group has stated that it plans to file a lawsuit against the government of Prime Minister Sebastian Kurz on the controversial “Islamic Map”.
Austrian Muslim youth organizations condemned the government for publishing a “political Islam map”, which shows the locations of mosques and Muslim associations across the country.
The organization quoted the organization on Saturday as saying: “The publication of the names, functions and addresses of all Muslim institutions, as well as institutions that are considered Muslims, represents an unprecedented cross-border.”
The Minister of Integration Susanne Raab launched a website called “Islamic State Map” on Thursday, which contains the names and locations of more than 620 mosques, associations and officials, as well as their possible connections with foreign countries.
The Austrian Islamic Religious Group (IGGOE) warned against stigmatizing all Muslims living in Austria as a “potential threat to society and the country’s democratic legal order”.
IGGOE added that the movement is fueling racism and “exposing Muslim citizens to huge security risks.”
The Austrian Chancellor repeatedly lashed out at what he called “political Islam”.
According to the Minister of Integration, the purpose of the map is not to “make Muslims generally suspect.”
She said the goal is “to combat political ideology, not religion.”
Since the deadly attack in Vienna last November, reports of anti-Muslim attacks in Austria have increased.
The map exacerbated tensions between Kurz’s conservative Austrian People’s Party and its coalition partner, the Green Party.
Faika El-Nagashi, a spokesperson for the integration and diversity of the Austrian Green Party, wrote on Twitter on Thursday that no members of the party were involved or had been notified of this in advance.
She added that the project “is contrary to what integration policies and dialogue should look like”.
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Twitter on Saturday that Austria “xenophobic, racist and anti-Islamic policies poisoned social cohesion and participation.”
“It is important for Austria to stop targeting immigrants and Muslims by labeling them and adopting responsible policies,” it said.
Michael Chalupuka, bishop of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church, also expressed concern and called on Rab to shut down the website.
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