VIENNA, March 3, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – As many as 90 Austrian imams and preachers will come together in Vienna on April 24 to probe how best to combat rising Islamophobia in Europe and to address “negative” actions by some Muslims which backfire on the entire sizable minority in the continent.

The meeting will discuss increasing anti-Muslim incidents across Europe since the murder of anti-Islam filmmaker Theo Van Gogh in neighboring Holland, Omar Al-Rawi, a member of the Vienna Parliament for the Socialist Democratic Party, told IslamOnline.net.

He added the meeting, to be hosted by Vienna municipality, would afford a chance for Muslims to “prove they are making genuine efforts to prevent any acts of violence or terrorism in Europe.”

Al-Rawi, also the Islamic Religious Authority (IRA)’s official in charge of the integration file, said Muslims “should play an effective role in addressing negatives practices by overenthusiastic Muslims that backfire on Muslim minorities across Europe.”

Muslim minorities in European countries have come under fire for allegedly failing to integrate, with imams bearing the brunt of criticism.

The meeting is expected to issue a paper of principles, confirming Muslims’ commitment to the Austrian constitution and clear condemnation of extremism.

The paper would be drafted by a number of leading Muslim scholars in Austria, including Adnan Ibrahim, imam of Al-Shura Mosque in Vienna, and Mohamed Turan, the head of the Islamic federation in Austria, a leading Turkish body.

Al-Rawi said the meeting would seek a unified stance reflecting Muslims’ position vis-à-vis acts of violence, which are usually blamed on Muslims.

Other issues of common concern to Muslim minorities in European countries would also came high on the agenda.

“Participants would clarify the position of Muslim minorities on integration into European societies while preserving their Islamic identity.”

The meeting would urge Muslim minorities to effectively take part in the political process, a means - it would stress – that could act in their own interest.

Al-Rawi highlighted the positive role by Austria’s Muslims in the reelection of President Heinz Fischer.

Fischer was always keen on attending Muslim ceremonies and festivals.

On December 6, he showed up for a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the IRA.

In June 2003, Austria played host to another conference for Muslim imams and preachers in Europe.

The conference yielded the Graz Declaration which basically underlined the fact that Islam rejects all forms of bigotry and extremism while defending democracy and human rights.

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

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

Muslim rights were also enhanced by the signing of the Saint-Germain agreement in 1919, in which the Austrian government pledged protection for minorities and affirmed the right of each citizen to assume important national posts regardless of his/her religious or ethnic backgrounds.

Muslims, estimated at nearly half a million, make up some 6 per cent of the country’s eight-million population.