| Submit your comments on this article | |
| Europe | |
| Austrian Muslim soldiers to get imams | |
| 2006-03-19 | |
| The approximately 1 000 Muslim conscripts in the Austrian army are to get their own imams, according to plans by defence minister Guenther Platter. Quoted in the weekend edition of the newspaper Die Presse, he pointed out that an average of 3.5% of army recruits were Muslims. Seeing there were already Catholic and Protestant military chaplains, Islam must be put on an equal footing with the other officially-recognised religions in Austria, he said. The paper said Platter's initiative came after problems involving strictly-religious Muslims of Austrian nationality conscripted into the army. In a recent incident some of them refused to salute the Austrian flag. At a monthly parade, "when the Austrian flag was raised, the Muslims turned away and demonstratively turned their backs on the flag", an army trainer was quoted as saying. To the surprise of the officers, the Muslims said the flag was incompatible with their religion. They could not subordinate themselves to the flag, and would not salute it in future, it was reported. No disciplinary action was taken, however, and the Muslim soldiers were allowed to miss the flag parade. "That caused annoyance among the troops," said an officer.
President of the Islamic Community in Austria, Anas Schakfeh, was called in as a mediator. He made it clear that Austrian flags did not violate religious principles, he told Die Presse. The military command was at pains to stress that it had been an isolated occurrence, and otherwise there was exemplary co-existence. However, trainers at Vienna Maria Theresia Barracks complained that Muslim soldiers were often absent from duty, and could only be used for simple tasks in basic training. A non-commissioned officer said many had the impression that soldiers classified as "strictly religious Muslims" exploited their position. For instance, they had to be relieved of duty for prayers. The military command pointed out that anyone absent from duty had to make the time up later. For instance, Islamic soldiers going to prayers on Friday midday and missing the rest of the day had to turn up instead on Saturday. "They're often called in for Saturday or Sunday duty," said a spokesperson. But non-commissioned officers, who did not want to be named, claimed it was too easy for soldiers to get a certificate from the Islamic Community classifying them as a "strictly-religious Muslim". One said: "Some of the strictly-religious drink alcohol, eat pork, and we've also tested Muslims positive for drugs." Schakfeh conceded there were possibly individual "black sheep", but said that most kept to the rules. In cases of violations, the certificate was immediately withdrawn. | |
| Posted by:lotp |
| #10 Agree W/ #: 'Get', as in 'hit', 'kill', wetwork; in short, an action verb. too bad its not to be. |
| Posted by: USN Ret. 2006-03-19 23:20 |
| #9 They're conscripts, not volunteers. They don't want to be there, aren't motivated, and don't see it as a longterm path. It would drive me up a wall to be their NCO, but on the other hand it would be a really bad precedent to allow them to opt out of service, given that service is otherwise mandatory for Austrians. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-03-19 22:01 |
| #8 However, trainers at Vienna Maria Theresia Barracks complained that Muslim soldiers were often absent from duty, and could only be used for simple tasks in basic training. OK, just HTF is someone allowed to stay in the military if they're "often absent from duty", particularly during basic training? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2006-03-19 21:45 |
| #7 Lined up against the wall and shot, I believe that would have set an appropriate example. |
| Posted by: djohn66 2006-03-19 20:14 |
| #6 conscripts. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-03-19 20:12 |
| #5 that desperate for soldiers to incorporate a fifth column? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-03-19 20:08 |
| #4 These simple minded fools. The minute these asswipes turned their backs, the order to fire at will should have been given. The entire lot should have been eliminated post haste. |
| Posted by: SOP35/Rat 2006-03-19 20:08 |
| #3 LOL. Whatever. |
| Posted by: Griper Phulet7709 2006-03-19 18:35 |
| #2 learn what? Pray tell. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2006-03-19 18:30 |
| #1 Good luck with that multiculti equivalency thing you've got going there. It will gain you nothing, but please, do proceed. It seems one can learn except by doing. |
| Posted by: Griper Phulet7709 2006-03-19 17:13 |