Austria defends new law on mosque funding

Austria defends new law on mosque funding
(Thursday, March 12, 2015) 11:09

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurtz defended the Austrian government’s new law that limits foreign funding and influence regarding the operation of mosques in Austria, a law that has sparked criticism from the Turkish government.

Turks comprise the third-largest ethnic group in Austria, after Croats, Serbs and Germans.
Speaking with The Guardian last week, Kurtz said “In our opinion, imams should be role models for young Muslims and must show that it is possible to be a proud Austrian and a believing Muslim at the same time and so there will be no need for Turkish imams in the future.”
In addition to the funding regulations, the law also affords more protections to Muslims, and gives official status in Austria to Muslim religious holidays.
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