Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache has spoken out against the construction of additional minarets in Austria. "We say yes to houses of prayers, but no to minarets and muezzins," he said.

Strache’s statement comes after Anas Schakfeh, president of the Austrian Islamic Denomination (IGGiÖ), suggested the construction of "visible" mosques featuring minarets in all nine Austrian provincial capitals.

The FPÖ chief branded Schakfeh’s appeal "disconcerting", while Social Democrats (SPÖ) attacked FPÖ general secretary Harald Vilimsky for calling mosques "hotbeds of radical Islam".

There are around 200 mosques in Austria, but only three of them (Vienna, Bad Vöslau, Telfs) feature minarets. Schakfeh, who said the around 500,000 Muslims living in Austria were "better than our reputation", also caused controversy by claiming many immigrants could not learn German before coming to Austria.

Basic German language skills required

The coalition formed by the SPÖ and the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) introduced stricter immigration laws earlier this year that require people who want to settle in Austria to have basic German skills upon arrival.

The office of ÖVP Interior Minister Maria Fekter dismissed Schakfeh’s claims yesterday. A spokesman for the right-wing minister said everyone who wanted to move to Austria was able to sit German lessons beforehand.

Schakfeh argued the new law forced poor countryside residents in foreign countries to immigrate twice – first to big cities to take part in German classes and then to Austria.

The FPÖ can brace for strong gains in the October 10 Vienna election, according to recent surveys. The party garnered 14.8 per cent in the 2005 vote, while right-wing archrivals the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) had the support of just 1.2 per cent.

Former ORF business journalist Walter Sonnleitner is the BZÖ’s front runner for the upcoming election, while federal FPÖ chief Strache also acts as head of the party’s Vienna branch.

Strache recently revealed his "vision" to become mayor of Vienna one day. SPÖ Mayor Michael Häupl has meanwhile been criticised by fellow SPÖ members for branding Strache a "loser" amid fears the controversial populist will only benefit from such attacks.

Häupl is expected to step down within the next few years regardless of the outcome of the election. He has been the federal capital’s mayor since 1994.

Austrian Times