Abstract

Austria was long considered as a model of success for what considers the accommodation of religious diversity, not least regarding Islam. The early legal recognition that placed Muslims on an equal footing with followers of other recognised religious communities dates to 1912. However, the relationship with Islam and organized Muslim faith is increasingly dominated by the obsession to fight the so-called political Islam. Guarantees of the positive aspect of the right to freedom of religion are called into question due to the ongoing tendency towards a return to state-church sovereignty with the aim to create a version of Islam that fits to the government’s position. This article therefore outlines and reflects on recent legal-political initiatives that shape organized Muslim life and impact on the right to freedom of religion of the Austrian Muslim community