Austria

Source : Reuters | Vienna | 28 Jul 2012

Austria’s Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim leaders united in defense of circumcision yesterday, condemning calls from two provincial leaders to limit the practice as an attack on religion and demanding that the government clarify its legality.

The row follows weeks of emotional debate and outrage in Germany where a regional court in Cologne banned the procedure on June 27 as physical abuse.

By Bethany Bell | BBC News | Vienna | 03 Jul 2012

Austria has had a checkered history when it comes to relations with Muslims, but its 100-year-old Law on Islam is seen as a symbol of tolerance.

The law gives Muslims the same rights as other officially recognised religions in Austria, such as Catholicism, Lutheranism, Judaism and Buddhism.

Source : Anadolu Agency
Vienna | 24 Aug 2011

Vienna Mayor Michael Haeupl hosted a fast-breaking dinner for representatives of Muslim community in Austria on Tuesday.

250 people including Turks attended the fast-breaking dinner at Vienna City Hall (Rathaus).

Delivering a speech at the dinner, Haeupl said that they had been hosting traditional fast-breaking dinner for 10 years.

Many people of foreign origin were living in Austria and it was important to live in peace in that beautiful city, he said.