As Austria’s political landscape shifts rightward, immigration—particularly concerning Muslim integration—has become a central issue. In Vienna, 20-year-old Saima Arab, originally from Afghanistan, enjoys freedoms unimaginable in her homeland. “In Afghanistan, it’s like a prison,” she said, reflecting on the contrast in her life since arriving in Austria in 2017. Yet, as Arab embraces her new life, many Austrians express growing concerns about the country’s ability to integrate a rising number of migrants.
The far-right Freedom Party (FPO) secured a major victory in Sunday’s elections, capitalizing on the electorate’s anxieties about immigration. The FPO’s anti-immigration stance, echoed by the ruling conservative Austrian People’s Party (OVP), signals an impending clampdown on asylum laws and illegal immigration. Together, the two parties garnered over 55% of the vote, with one likely to lead the next government. Their success underscores a broader European trend of far-right gains, following electoral victories for parties like Alternative for Germany and France’s National Rally.
Polling revealed that immigration, coupled with inflation, was top of mind for Austrian voters. The country’s foreign-born population has surged, with nearly 27% of its 9 million residents now either born abroad or having immigrant parents. Critics argue that Austria’s infrastructure is struggling to keep pace. Mehmet Ozay, an Austrian of Turkish descent and a supporter of the FPO, voiced concerns that the system is “close to collapse,” as asylum seekers, in his view, fail to contribute adequately to the economy.
The FPO’s hardline approach to immigration has also included sharp criticism of Islam. Last month, the issue drew public attention after a teenager of North Macedonian descent was arrested for allegedly planning an Islamic State-inspired attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. The incident further fueled the FPO’s campaign, which ran under the slogan “Fortress Austria.” The party promotes “remigration”—a policy advocating for the return of asylum seekers to their home countries, particularly those who struggle to integrate.
Though the FPO claims it is protecting Austria’s resources and security, many feel the party is fostering xenophobia. Some critics draw comparisons between the party’s rhetoric and Austria’s dark history of anti-Semitism. Hedy, a social worker and former Afghan refugee, remarked, “It’s not unlike how Jews were targeted in the lead-up to World War II.”
While the FPO seeks to distance itself from its Nazi past, such concerns linger. Herbert Kickl, the FPO leader, recently denounced Adolf Hitler as the “biggest mass murderer in human history,” but Jewish leaders like Alon Ishay, head of the Austrian Association of Jewish Students, see parallels between anti-Semitic sentiments of the Nazi era and today’s hostility toward Muslims. “When you talk about deportation or revoking citizenship, there are rhetorical similarities,” Ishay warned.
Nonetheless, some supporters, like Ozay, dismiss these fears. He maintains that Muslims in Austria still enjoy considerable freedom and that the tension is primarily political, fueled by rival parties.
As Austria braces for its new political reality, the future of immigration policies, and their wider societal impact, remains a pressing concern for both citizens and migrants alike.
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