2023-10-08 11:08:28
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Vienna on Saturday drew criticism. After the major attacks by militant Palestinians on Israel, images of a rally on Vienna’s Mariahilfer Strasse circulated on social media, and Palestinian flags were waved at Ballhausplatz. Vienna’s deputy mayor Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS), for example, described the events as “frightening”. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution is monitoring the situation closely, the police said.
“It is frightening and unacceptable that Hamas’ attacks on Israel are being applauded in Vienna. Our support goes to the Israeli people in this difficult time!” said Wiederkehr on X, formerly Twitter. “Shame on you! You don’t speak for us people of Arab/Palestinian origin,” wrote SPÖ National Council member Muna Duzdar on the short message service. FPÖ Mariahilf district party leader Leo Kohlbauer also said he was “horrified and shocked” in a broadcast: “It is unbearable that people in the middle of Mariahilferstrasse openly sympathize with brutal murders, desecrations and kidnappings by Muslims once morest Jews.”
The police said in response to a request from the APA that the rallies were emotional but peaceful and that intervention was largely not necessary. Gatherings are generally permitted in Austria, and grounds for dissolution are given, for example, if a meeting contravenes criminal law or if holding it endangers public safety or the public welfare. This is being continually examined in the current situation.
In addition to the situation being monitored by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, all police forces were also made aware. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution is in close contact with European and Israeli security authorities, and increased surveillance of affected facilities in Vienna and throughout Austria has been ordered. The police emphasized that these measures were initiated in the first hours following the attack by the terrorist organization Hamas.
The flags and symbols of Hamas or the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, which has now also attacked Israel, are banned in Austria.
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