AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The president of the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGO), Umit Vural, has called on Lower Austria's Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner to clarify remarks she made during a televised interview, which have been perceived as anti-Islam.
In an interview broadcast on Sunday evening by the public broadcaster ORF, Mikl-Leitner expressed her opposition to holding new elections in Austria. During her comments, she emphasized the importance of focusing on economic recovery and addressing what she described as the "fight against Islam," Anadolu Agency reported on Monday.
Vural issued a statement on Monday, criticizing the governor's choice of words and questioning whether her comment was an unintentional misstep. He stated, "I wonder whether Ms. Mikl-Leitner's statement is a slip of the tongue. If this is the case, I expect a clear and unequivocal clarification on behalf of the Muslims in this country."
He warned that if the statement was not clarified, it could be interpreted as a harmful generalization that stigmatizes Muslims, fosters discrimination, and potentially fuels hatred and violence against the community.
Vural stressed that such language risks deepening societal divisions and inadvertently reinforcing extremist narratives that society should collectively oppose.
Furthermore, Vural urged Mikl-Leitner and other political figures in Austria to recognize their responsibility in shaping public discourse, highlighting a concerning trend of rising hostility and attacks targeting Muslims in recent months, including threats directed at the IGGO itself.
The IGGO president called for careful and responsible rhetoric, emphasizing that religion should not be used as a tool for political agendas. He urged leaders to prioritize unity and social cohesion in their public communication.
...............
End/ 257