Interview with dean of the Faculty of Protestant Theology of Vienna University Martin Rothgangel

Interview’s main topic is religion in Austria. So  our first question is what religion do most people in Austria follow? Martin Rothgangel: Despite increased secularism in daily life, the majority of Austrians still consider themselves Roman Catholics. People without religious faith have a significant following then Protestants, Muslims, and the Christians of the Orthodox faith. The country has the highest tolerance to religious freedom with legislation ran strictly on secularism. Despite the religious neutrality of the legal system in the country, the Austrian culture is greatly influenced by centuries-old Roman Catholicism. Besides, the law protects all types of religion in the country. Whether registered or not citizens enjoy the right to abstain from religious activities or identify with religion. Roman Catholicism is the oldest and most predominant religious faith in Austria with a 61% of the total population identify with the faith. The centuries old religion is bound to strong traditions and a majority of church building within the city centers. History records that Vienna had once been the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. The faith has beautiful shrines, cathedrals, and monasteries. The faith is more pronounced in the provinces of Tirol, Lower Austria, and Burgenland with urban centers having fewer religion affiliations. The history of the faith dates back to the time when the western part of Austria was part of the Roman Empire. Next question is what is the islam’s position in such European country? Martin Rothgangel: Islam, as the second largest in Austria is practiced by nearly 8% of the Viennese population, must of them belonging to the Sunni denomination. Austria was the first western country to recognize Muslims as a religious community with the Anerkennungesetz  in 1912. The Islamic culture has deeply rooted in Vienna for centuries at first through the war with Turkey in the late 18th century and later with Bosnia-Herzegovina being a part of the K&K Empire. To combat the radical Islam in Austria the Islamgesetz was introduced in 2015 illegalizing foreign sponsoring of mosques and paying salaries of imams and furthermore regulating the versions of the Koran, which are used in Austria. The Islamic Center Mosque was built in the 1975 and is located in the 21st district in Vienna. It has a 32m high minaret and attached to the mosque are facilities for the study and practice of Islamic culture. Our last question is what can you tell us about religious freedom in Austria? Religious freedom is constitutionally guaranteed. Austrian law divides religious organizations into three legal categories: officially recognized religious societies, religious confessional communities, and associations. Many religious minority groups have complained that the law impedes their legitimate claims for recognition and demotes them to second- or third-class status. In February, legislators amended a 1912 law that determined Islam’s legal status in Austria, expanding the rights and protections granted to followers of the religion, including officially recognizing Muslim holidays. However, local Muslim groups and religious watchdogs criticized a portion of the amendments that banned foreign funding for Muslim houses of worship and imams, noting that such restrictions do not exist for other religious groups in the country. There are no government restrictions on academic freedom, and private discussion is both free and vibrant. Thank you very much for your answers professor Rothgangel!

Togzhan Shaptayeva Zhuldyz Zhorabek

Master’s degree  students Department of  Religious and Cultural Studies Faculty of  Philosophy and Political Science Al-Farabi Kazakh National University