Nearly 2,000 Racist Attacks Reported in Austria in 2021

VIENNA – Austria saw a total of 1,977 racist attacks in 2021, according to a new report. Over half of these took place online.

The Vienna-based Civil Courage and Anti-Racism Work (ZARA) said in its 2021 Racism Report that some 1,117 racist posts were shared on social media and other online platforms.

There were 273 racist attacks in public places, and 185 people were subjected to racist treatment in the service and entertainment sectors.

There were 112 racist attacks in public institutions and organizations and 104 racist attacks in working life, the report added.

Also, 84 pieces of racist/hateful rhetoric appeared in print media and politics.

Many of these racist attacks were Islamophobic in nature targeting Muslims.

According to the report, women face racism twice as often as men in public places. Hijab-wearing Muslim females were also targeted.

Only 22% of the victims applied to ZARA about racist attacks themselves, while most of the recorded cases were reported by third parties.

This year’s report focuses on structural and institutional racism. The statement cited as examples of institutional racism a 2020 incident in which police used disproportionate violence against 30 Muslim activists and academics, including Farid Hafez, a well-known political science professor.