Islam in Europe

Islam in Europe draws our attention to a interview with Alexander Gaisch, the police chief in the Austrian city of Graz, which was published in theKleine Zeitung under the headline "We will be slowly infiltrated".

Asked if a planned Islamic centre in Graz could become "a hotbed of radicalisation", Gaisch replies:

"In the worst case. There will never be an obvious radicalisation. Swordsmen will not be coming, we will be slowly infiltrated. This population group has more children, a different lifestyle. They are doing this quite cleverly with a building in which many people can be accommodated. It will be more than a mosque: a cultural, social centre with a kindergarten."

The Kleine Zeitung also reports that Gaisch's comments have been condemned by the Social Democrats and Greens.

It's worth noting the context in which Gaisch made these remarks. During a local election campaign in 2008 Susanne Winter of the far-right Freedom Party described the prophet Mohammed as a "child molester" and called for Islam to be pushed "back where it belonged, beyond the Mediterranean Sea". This was followed by anattack on a Muslim cemetery in the city. Another local FPÖ politician, Gerhard Kurzmann, was later prosecuted (but unfortunately acquitted) on a charge of inciting religious hatred after he posted an online video game in which players were required to stop the construction of mosques by shooting shooting at Muslims.

Yes, really.

Yes, really. That's what Heinz-Christian Strache states in an interview with RT. His objection, apparently, is only to "radical Islamist trends". Can't see this going down too well with the international "counterjihad" movement. Hasn't Strache grasped that Islam is a "religion of war"?

In fact, Strache goes on to say he's in favour of a ban on minarets and the niqab, along with the wearing of headscarves by state employees. He also claims that European nations will "disappear politically and demographically" unless they recognise the urgent need for "the preservation of European folk culture". No prizes for guessing where Strache might think the political and demographic threat comes from.

Strache also says: "I respect Turkey. Turkey is a fantastic country, a proud country, with a fantastic culture, with fantastic economic success which inspires respect." But that doesn't prevent him claiming: "More than 50% of Turkish immigrants don't want to integrate into Austrian society. They don't want to learn the language and organize parallel and opposing structures." He is against Turkey becoming a member of the EU because that would mean "an end to the European idea of peace and social ideals". Oh, and Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is apparently bent on world domination.

In other words, the Strache interview is just another example of the double-talk that characterises the "counterjihad" movement. They try to deflect criticism of their real ideas and policies by wrapping their anti-Muslim bigotry in lies and hypocrisy.

Austria has had a checkered history when it comes to relations with Muslims, but its 100-year-old Law on Islam is seen as a symbol of tolerance. The law gives Muslims the same rights as other officially recognised religions in Austria, such as Catholicism, Lutheranism, Judaism and Buddhism.

At the weekend senior members of the Austrian government and the country's Islamic Community attended ceremonies to mark the centenary.

The Law on Islam, described as unique in Europe by members of the Austrian Islamic Community, guarantees Muslims in the country wide-ranging rights including religious education in state schools, administration of internal affairs and public worship.

In a speech at Vienna's neo-Gothic town hall, the head of Austria's Islamic Community, Fuat Sanac, described the law as an example for the rest of Europe. Islam in Austria, he said, was seen by most people as an enrichment, not as a danger.

Controversial broadcaster

Controversial broadcaster Alan Jones has been ordered to apologise for comments he made in 2005 describing Lebanese Muslims as "vermin" and "mongrels".The Administrative Decisions Tribunal (ADT) ordered Jones to apologise on his 2GB radio show between 8am and 8.30am any day next week over the comments he made on-air in April 2005.It comes two months after Jones lost a lengthy legal bid to overturn the 2009 decision, which found he "incited hatred, serious contempt and severe ridicule of Lebanese Muslims".The case was taken against him by Sydney-based Lebanese-born Muslim leader, Keysar Trad. The complaint related to comments he made on April 28 about a Nine Network current affairs story reportedly showing young men of Lebanese origin taunting police."If ever there was a clear example that Lebanese males in their vast numbers not only hate our country and our heritage, this was it," Jones said. Referring to the men as "vermin" and "mongrels", he added: "They simply rape, pillage and plunder a nation that's taken them in."In the original 2009 decision, the tribunal awarded $10,000 in damages to Mr Trad, ordered the presenter make a public apology within eight weeks, and directed Harbour Radio to conduct a "critical review of its policies and practices on racial vilification" and staff training in such matters.In its latest decision handed down on Wednesday, the tribunal rejected a submission that an apology made by Jones on December 6 was "an adequate acknowledgment of wrongdoing".Instead it ordered him to read out the following apology any day next week from December 17:"On 28 April 2005 on my breakfast program on Radio 2GB, I broadcast comments about Lebanese males including Lebanese Muslims."The comments were made following a Channel Nine television current affairs show about the conduct of young Lebanese men in Hickson Road at the Rocks."The Administrative Decisions Tribunal has found that my comments incited serious contempt of Lebanese males including Lebanese Muslims."Those comments were in breach of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act."I apologise for making those comments which I recognise were unlawful."I also apologise on behalf of Radio 2GB."

Anger at plans for a mosque and evangelical church

Anger at plans for a mosque and evangelical church to be built side-by-side in Melbourne's east has spilled over amid claims Islam ''directly contravenes our freedom values''.It was standing room only at the City of Casey chambers in Narre Warren on Tuesday night at one of the last meetings before the council debates a proposal to build a mosque and community centre on a vacant industrial lot in Green Street, Doveton.The mosque would be next to the church and headquarters of Catch the Fire Ministries, run by controversial anti-Islam Pastor Danny Nalliah who was acquitted of a racial vilification charge brought by the Islamic Council of Victoria in 2006. The church has already been approved by council and construction is expected to begin within weeks.Residents at the meeting cited traffic concerns, noise pollution, and fears the mosque would be used to preach hate speech.Mayor Amanda Stapledon repeatedly asked the gallery of about 50 people to be quiet amid booing, cheering and heckling."This is not Afghanistan, have some guts for a change!" one man yelled at councillors.

Outspoken Australian

Outspoken Australian person  "fixer" Lynton Crosby used the phrase "f........ Muslims" in a diatribe while working for London Mayor Boris Johnson.

But officials said the Prime Minister has no intention of changing his mind about appointing the strategist, despite the new revelations.

Mr Crosby's outburst came earlier this year as Mr Johnson's aides discussed whether to devote more attention to wooing the ethnic minority vote in his battle with Labour's Ken Livingstone.

According to a source, Mr Crosby said Mr Johnson should concentrate on traditional Tory voters instead of "f......... Muslims".

 The source added: "He definitely used that phrase" and said: "Lynton's view was that chasing the Muslim vote and other ethnic groups was a waste of time – and he frequently expressed himself in very strong terms. Some people found it greatly offensive."

In a statement last night a spokesman for Mr Crosby said he had "absolutely no recollection" of using the term. 

His allies claimed Mr Crosby was the victim of a dirty tricks plot by Tory enemies to stop him taking charge of campaigns at Conservative HQ.

Mr Johnson last night said he had "no recollection" of being present when Mr Crosby made his "f.... Muslims" comment.


He said his election chief was "the soul of sweetness and kindness". And the Mayor urged Mr Cameron not to reverse his decision to put Mr Crosby in charge of his election campaign.