Austria: Politician Proposes Ban on Mosques, Minarets

Reuters reports that Joerg Haider, governor of the Austrian province of Carinthia, plans to ask Parliament to alter building laws with the goal of preventing mosques and minarets from being built in the province. Henceforth “religious and cultural tradition” would need to be considered before building plans would be approved, said Haider, who opposed the construction of minarets and mosques as “centers to advertise the power of Islam”. A spokesman for Haider said there would be no plans to eliminate Muslim prayer rooms, however, as “Muslims of course have the right to practice their religion”. As for mosques and minarets, Haider emphasized, “We don’t want a clash of cultures and we don’t want institutions which are alien to our culture being erected in Western Europe”.