Islamism in focus

Karner in favor of restrictions after serving time

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner wants to create "new opportunities".

(Bild: APA/HANS KLAUS TECHT)

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) is concerned about the radicalization of Islamist criminals even after serving time. Accordingly, he is considering "creating new ways of taking them out of circulation".

The Minister of the Interior believes that a form of detention after serving a prison sentence could be "a possibility". Karner argues that the radicalization of some potential attackers in prisons has not decreased, but in some cases even increased.

Will cell phone bans apply to dangerous individuals in future?
Of course, even after their release, dangerous individuals are still under observation by the state security services. But the aim must be to reduce the number. The most suitable measures for this now need to be worked out.

For example, the question of what kind of mobile communication the relevant group of people should be allowed to have could also be addressed.

Karner poses the question: What should be done with Islamists once they have served their sentence?

(Bild: APA/MAX SLOVENCIK)

Karner doesn't say how many dangerous individuals are currently on the radar: "I won't speculate on individual figures." However, Islamist extremism has increased significantly following the Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent events, and the threat level has risen accordingly: "In the area of constitutional protection, this is the area that poses the highest threat."

Karner criticizes Kickl
Nevertheless, even after the thwarted attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, Karner is convinced that major events can still be held in Austria: "There will continue to be big, beautiful, peaceful, joyful festivals and events in the future. I am 100 percent convinced of that."

The Minister of the Interior sees the fact that the attack was prevented as a success for the security authorities. He is all the more outraged that FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl, one of his predecessors, has not found any words of thanks for the emergency services: "Kickl has once again shown his true face, a face of hatred and contempt". The FPÖ chairman was not prepared for one second to thank the police officers for ensuring people's safety: "For him, only Herbert counts."

In terms of asylum policy, Karner insists that smugglers are avoiding Austria, otherwise the figures for illegal migration would not have fallen by 65 percent, contrary to the European trend, and in Burgenland by as much as 97 percent. However, the Minister of the Interior wants to take steps at European level to prevent every Afghan or Syrian from receiving de facto protection status.