Political Islam

“Salafists live like in the time of the prophet”

(Bild: krone.tv)

Lisa Fellhofer, head of the Documentation Center for Political Islam, explains the increasing spread of Salafism in Austria in an interview on krone.tv. In order to be able to classify the topic correctly, it should be said in advance: Salafism is generally regarded as an extremely conservative form of Islam.

Fellhofer on the status quo: "Salafism is spreading in Austria on two levels. One is the online area. This means that social media is used by Salafists, but also by other Islamist movements, to constantly fuel their own followers with statements, but also to generate new followers. The other area is that smaller Salafist groups in Austria try to gain followers through workshops or on the street and spread their message." YouTube videos are also being produced.

Living like in the year 600
When asked how Salafism should generally be classified and its rules interpreted, Fellhofer says: "The Salafists are a fringe group, a niche of Islam. They cultivate an ultra-orthodox and strict form of their religion." The groups claim that they go back to the time of the Prophet of Islam. They want a way of life that, according to their interpretation, is the way it was back then.

When asked roughly what time it was, the head of the documentation center replies: "Around the year 600. This applies to various areas of everyday life, such as dress codes." Salafism is an extremist movement and offers people who feel they no longer fit in an anchor, also in relation to the rule of law. This is because, from the Salafists' point of view, Islam is the basis for all law.

Lisa Fellhofer, Head of the Documentation Center for Political Islam

(Bild: krone.tv)

Iran and Turkey influence 
The Imam Ali Center in Vienna-Floridsdorf is also a vehicle of political Islam, where anti-Semitic messages are spread, among other things. States such as Iran or Turkey with its Milli Görüs movement are trying to influence the discourse on Islam by moderate means. In short, Islamist movements reject democracy and Western life. In general, Islamist and right-wing extremist movements would also use influencer groups to build each other up, while indirectly promoting each other and raising their profile.  

All further details on the development of Islam and Salafism, including the significance of the Middle East conflict, can be seen in the video above.