Why not an Anti-Muslim Brigade?

Erich Kocina reacts to the recent IMAS study (see above) in this op-ed piece, pointing out two main points made clear by results: firstly, in coming out 59% against minarets, Austrians do not think much differently than the Swiss. And secondly, demagogues have done just as good a job in Austria as they have next door. In other words, to what degree one has personally been affected becomes a non-issue, in the same way that those Swiss most against minarets were in areas where no Muslims live.

Kocina states that we can imagine already the consequences of these results: instead of policies, which serve to ensure social peace and attempt to resolve (very real) problems, we will see cosmetic measures taken to heighten the repression of one section of the population in the name of enhancing the general population’s “subjective feeling of security.” In the end, the goal is to win votes. In the same fashion as the just as expensive and pointless current involvement of the Austrian army in patrolling the border in Burgenland, “Anti-Muslim Protective Brigades” could be brought in to patrol the country. Seem ridiculous? He asks rhetorically, – in these times, unfortunately not.

Share Button

Sources