Chancellor Kurz condemns Islamophobic attack in Austria

</p> <p>By Askin Kiyagan</p> <p>VIENNA (AA) – Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Monday condemned a verbal and physical Islamophobic attack on Muslim woman.</p> <p>“A sickening attack, which I condemn in the strongest possible terms,” Kurz wrote on Twitter, sharing a report which included video taken by the Austria-born Muslim woman who was attacked by an elderly Austrian woman.</p> <p>“In #Österreich [Austria] we stand for a respectful and peaceful coexistence of all religions!” he added.</p> <p>However, many social media users criticized Kurz’s tweet saying the far-right government was responsible for the rising Islamophobia in the country.</p> <p>Many citizens, especially non-governmental organizations, also condemned the attack on social media and showed solidarity with the victim.</p> <p>The discriminatory, anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim policies of the far-right government in Austria, which had been in power for over a year, led to a dramatic increase in racist incidents, according to reports.</p> <p>* Written and contributed by Sena Guler in Ankara