VIENNA, January 16 (IslamOnline.net) - Mosques play a pivotal role in encouraging Muslims’ integration into Austrian society, though imams are required to do more, Austrian Muslims have said.

“Mosques are quite important for the integration of the Muslim community into society,” Omar Al-Rawi, the Islamic Religious Authority (IRA) official in charge of the integration file, told IslamOnline.net.

He cited Al-Shura grand mosque in Vienna as a paradigm for directing the Muslim community and encouraging Muslims to amalgamate with society, thanks to his seasoned imam Adnan Ibrahim.

Rawi, a member of the Vienna parliament, gave the famous mosque credit for helping him become the first Arab Muslim politician in Austria.

A law issued in 1867, which guaranteed respect for all religions, gave Muslims the right to establish mosques and practice their religion in Austria.

There are 76 mosques and prayer rooms across the country, including 53 in Vienna alone, according to recent estimates.

Established in 1979, the IRA functions as the religious and spiritual representative of Muslims in Austria.

Ahmad Hassan, a 31-year-old Egyptian IT expert, said mosques serve as a guiding light for Muslims in the country.

“Imams have always been preaching about the importance of integrating into society but without trampling on your religious tenets,” Hassan, who has been living in Austria for the past four years, told IOL.

“Muslims should strike the right balance between their identity and the western values.”

Nayef Zayed, 24, said mosques are also playing a political role by guiding the naturalized Muslims through the country’s political landscape and helping them choose politicians championing their causes.

A case in point, he added, was when all Muslim voted for Austrian President Heinz Fischer.

Palestinian-born Mohammad Tayeh agreed that mosques, besides being a place of worship, are doing great in educating the Muslim community about how to adapt to Austrian values.

He, however, blamed some “isolated and narrow-minded” imams for hampering the integration of Muslims into society.

Ibrahim Taha, of Egyptian origin, saw eye-to-eye with Tayeh, criticizing some imams who, for instance, advise Muslims against congratulating fellow Christian citizens on their feasts.

“Unfortunately, some Austrian Muslims take such recommendations at face value,” he added.

Rawi attributed the “parallel societies” mentality to the fact that some Muslims still dream about returning to their motherlands.

Noman Belhaj, of Moroccan origin, said the Muslim community is doing little in clearing stereotypes and misconceptions about Islam.

He urged mosques to organize training courses for community members so that they would be able to answer the questions of curious non-Muslims.

Osama Maher, 48, echoed a similar viewpoint.

He said mosques and imams are not doing enough to cement the integration of the community.

“But, to my way of thinking, a multi-ethnic society only exist in the media, while integration has to do with being treated as a human being.”

He said the Austrian people started changing their attitudes toward foreigners in 1990s with more immigrants pouring into the country.

Islam, which was officially acknowledged in Austria in 1908, is considered the second religion in the country after Catholic Christianity.