In Vienna, the capital of Austria, the number of Muslim students has risen to 35 percent, making this group the largest religious community in primary education (elementary schools). This increase has been accompanied by a rise in intolerance towards Jews, gays, and women’s rights, research shows. Consequently, a social scientist now calls for mandatory school lessons in democracy and Western values.
Recent statistics reveal significant changes in the religious composition of primary school students. Muslims now comprise 35 percent of the total, while Catholics account for 21 percent, Orthodox Christians 13 percent, and Protestants and other faiths two percent. Additionally, 26 percent of students identify as non-religious, according to Heute.
Intolerance and Discrimination in Schools
The growth in the proportion of Muslim students is considerable. In the 2016/2017 school year, 28 percent of primary school students were Muslim, compared to 31 percent who were Catholics. In some neighborhoods, 90 percent of school students have a migration background, more than half of whom are Muslim.
This demographic shift also influences religious activity and views among young people. Research indicates that young Muslims are generally very religious and actively participate in mosque activities. Moreover, they frequently hold disapproving attitudes towards Jews, LGBTQI people, and gender equality.
Furthermore, increasing numbers of German schoolchildren are converting to Islam out of fear of being excluded or harmed. A new study by the KFN Institute in Lower Saxony shows that 67.8 percent of surveyed students consider the Qur’an more important than German laws.
Sharia Police in German Schools
In January, German media reported on four German school students who wanted to introduce Sharia law. These young Muslims pressured their schoolmates and teachers to adhere to Islamic rules (Islamic law, Sharia) and reject democracy, threatening stoning for non-compliance. At another school, non-Muslim students were forced to participate in Ramadan last month.
There are also increasing incidents in other parts of Germany involving young Muslims acting as self-declared ‘morality police.’ For instance, in June 2023, at the Nicolas-Cusanus-Gymnasium in Bonn, strictly religious Muslim students bullied their classmates, predominantly female Muslim students. In Wuppertal, a self-declared ‘Sharia police’ checked whether young Muslims adhered to Islamic rules in the evenings in dance clubs and shops.
Austria is also grappling with a growing number of young Muslims acting as ‘morality police.’ These youths intimidate students and teachers, pressuring them to follow Islamic rules (Sharia). Teachers and unions are calling on politicians to take the problem seriously.
Compulsory Democracy Lessons in Schools
Social scientist and government advisor Kenan Güngör advocates a radical change in the educational curriculum. He proposes making lessons in democracy, ethics, and social values compulsory from the early school years. These lessons should teach students the fundamental principles of democracy as a “common faith” in Austria.
According to Güngör, these educational changes must counterbalance the teachings children receive outside the classroom, especially from radicalizing influences. He emphasizes the importance of cultivating strong democratic attitudes early on among all students, regardless of their religious background.
The Influence of Islamic Teachings
However, Güngör and other government officials fail to recognize that the so-called “radical influences” are fundamentally rooted in Islamic religious texts (Quran, Hadith) and reinforced by Imams, mosques, and parents. In other words, they are not radical but authentic Islam as it has been taught since the time of Mohammad.
The troubling behavior of Muslim students towards non-Muslims is a reflection of their Islamic faith and the example set by the Prophet. There is nothing unusual or deviant about their actions from an Islamic perspective. Instead of Western governments and left-wing media condemning these views and their treatment of non-Muslims, they often insist that such abuses have nothing to do with Islam. They go to great lengths to protect a sanitized version of Islam crafted for Western consumption. This persistent denial continues to place non-Muslims at significant risk.
Comparison with Other European Cities
Vienna is not alone in experiencing these demographic shifts. For instance, the native inhabitants of Malmö, Sweden, have been a minority since 2014. Among pupils and students aged 10-24, two-thirds (68 percent) have a migration background. Research from Malmö University shows that this share increases annually. Another study reveals that Swedish youths with a migration background are 3.2 times more likely to commit criminal offenses.
The Role of Multiculturalism in Western Societies
Why do Western nations continue to welcome Islamic migrants whose values and integration goals frequently diverge from those of the host culture?
“Multiculturalism,” a fundamental principle in Western societies, is built on the ideals of diversity, tolerance, and the acceptance of differing beliefs and values. However, the recurring difficulty in achieving reciprocal integration by Muslim communities poses a substantial threat to the integrity of Western culture itself.
Multiculturalism could be said to be one of the principal weapons used by leftists in the West to deconstruct the culture of individualism that has made the West successful.
