Austrian rightist leader calls Islam 'totalitarian'

Vienna, June 5: The populist head of Austria's leading far-right opposition party denounced Islam today as a ''totalitarian legal and social system'' and Islamists as ''the fascists of the 21st century''.

The broadside from Heinz-Christian Strache, whose Freedom Party took 11 per cent of the vote in Austria's last election, drew a quick riposte from the head of Austria's Islamic community, who called the accusations ''absurd''.

Strache's campaign in last year's national election turned on demands for a total halt to immigration and a ministry for repatriating foreigners. He has denied accusations of inciting hatred of Islam and being in a circle of Holocaust deniers.

''Islam isn't just a religion, it's a totalitarian legal and social system,'' Strache told a news conference marking his weekend re-election as Freedom Party chief. ''Islamism is the fascism of the 21st century.'' He contended that Islamic clerics in Austria were promoting ''racism against Christians and European culture''.

Strache said his party wanted parliament to impose a ban on further construction of minarets and mandate German as the language for Islamic preachers.

But the mainstream Social Democrats and conservative People's Party, now in a governing coalition, have accused the rightists of inciting dangerous xenophobia in no way justified by the facts in the stable, prosperous Alpine republic.

Omar al-Rawi, the Austrian Islamic community's official in charge of integration, rejected Strache's remarks as ''simply absurd ...

Learn history, Mr Strache, Islam has been a prime example of tolerance''.

He said there was no question Muslims in Austria needed to master German ''but diversity of languages must be preserved''.

Austria has experienced a major increase in immigration from Islamic countries over the past decade. Some native Austrians worry about how largely Muslim foreigners, comprising almost 10 percent of the population, will blend into society.

Reuters>