VIENNA,
July 11, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Austrian President Heinz Fischer
has said that Islam is not an enemy of the West, warning of offensive
reactions to Muslim minorities across Europe over the London blasts.
"Islam
is not an enemy of the West, but the real enemies are a bunch of
fanatics who should be isolated," Fischer told Channel One’s
Press Hour program on Sunday, July 10.
He
stressed that terror should not undermine democratic and exemplary
Europe, adding that political means are the only way to deal with
those hardliners.
Fischer
cautioned European governments against responding to terror by taking
blind steps governed by hatred and anger.
"This
will ultimately lead to a clash of civilizations," he averred
when asked about Britain’s Home Secretary Charles Clarke’s
suggestion to record phone calls and track e-mails and SMSs across
Europe.
The
Austrian leader reiterated opposition to restricting people’s
freedoms and civil rights as a reaction to violence like the London
bombings, which killed more than 50 people and injured up to 700
others on Thursday, July 7.
No
sooner had the London blasts taken place than racist attacks against
mosques in Britain, the US and New Zealand were reported.
London
police said Sunday there had been a number of racially and religiously
motivated hate crimes since the terror bombings, including
one resulting in a serious injury.
Safe
Austria
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Fischer joined by Muslims in celebrating the silver Jubilee of their representative body in Austria.
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Fischer,
cerebrating the first anniversary in office, said that he is confident
that Austria is not on the terror list.
"Neutrality
helped Austria steer clear of the US-led war on Iraq," he said in
a veiled reference that the war has made the world less safe.
The
66-year-old leader further said it is not necessary for the government
to adopt new measures in the wake of the London attacks, referring to
new anti-terror laws.
He
lauded the fruitful cooperation between the Muslim minority and the
authorities.
"Austria
has set itself up as a paradigm for cooperation with Muslims, who are
law-abiding," added the president.
He
further praised the pivotal role played by the Islamic Religious
Authority in Austria (IRA), the main representative Muslim body in the
country.
Since
he was elected President in 2004, Fischer has taken several good
gestures toward the Muslim minority.
He
invited minority representatives to an iftar banquet in the
presidential palace during the Muslims' holy fasting month of Ramadan.
Fischer
and a cohort of senior government officials also joined Austrian
Muslims in celebrating the 25th anniversary of the IRA.
Muslims
are estimated at 300,000 in Austria, making up 4% of the 8 million
population.
Islam,
which was officially acknowledged in Austria in 1912, is considered
the second religion in the country after Catholicism.
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