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Islam and Muslims in Austria

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Part of the book series: Islam und Politik ((ISPO))

Abstract

Austria is characterized as inclusive in terms of the governance of religion and thus often described as a best-practice model for the incorporation of religious minorities, particularly Muslims. This assessment is based on the principle of equal treatment of all legally acknowledged religious communities and the rights and resources they are entitled to. The legal recognition of Islam in Austria roots in a law of 1912, which Muslim immigrants who came to Austria following the guest worker recruitment of the 1960s and 1970s referred to when they founded an Islamic Community. Since 1979, the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGiÖ, ‘Islamische Glaubensgemeinschaft in Österreich’) has been serving as the official representative body of Muslims in Austria.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The recognition of the Islamic Alevi Religious community in Austria showed that the application for legal recognition can be a successful way for Islamic groups that do not feel represented by the IGGiÖ. An adaption of the legal setting regarding the ex lege principle is pending.

  2. 2.

    Turkish: Avusturya Türk İslam Kültür ve Sosyal Yardımlaşma Birliği.

  3. 3.

    VIKZ; this name is used in the western part of Austria.

  4. 4.

    In a contract, the city council and ATIB not only agreed on distinctive architectural changes and a ban on calls to prayer, but also stipulated that the city council has the right to nominate three persons with voting rights in the elections of the association’s board (Fürlinger 2010, p. 205).

  5. 5.

    Taşdöğen 2012.

  6. 6.

    Muslimische Jugend Österreich 2013.

  7. 7.

    ibid.

  8. 8.

    First generation: 73 % of male and 87 % of female Muslims consider themselves religious; second generation: 57 % of male and 62 % of female Muslim consider themselves religious; Overall, 38 % of the Austrian population consider themselves religious (religion.orf.at, 23.04.2013; Ulram and Tributsch 2013).

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Correspondence to Astrid Mattes .

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© 2015 Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden

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Mattes, A., Rosenberger, S. (2015). Islam and Muslims in Austria. In: Burchardt, M., Michalowski, I. (eds) After Integration. Islam und Politik. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-02594-6_7

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