After Sharia Ruling in Vienna: ÖVP Announces Measures

The federal government will "permanently put a stop to the application of Sharia rules in Austria." This was announced by ÖVP Secretary General Nico Marchetti on Tuesday in response to a controversial decision by the Vienna Regional Court for Civil Matters (LG). The LG recently confirmed the decision of an arbitration court, which had made its decision based on Islamic legal regulations in a contractual dispute.
ÖVP wants to prevent the application of Sharia rules in the future
The federal government's work program specifically outlines action against Sharia, particularly concerning personal status, because "there, the medieval legal regulations of Sharia could cause particularly great harm," according to a statement from the ÖVP Secretary General. The application of regulations that, for example, degrade women to second-class citizens should not be tolerated under any circumstances.
For Marchetti, the application of Islamic legal regulations is also "problematic" in civil law. Under the guise of contractual freedom, an attempt was made to legally legitimize "an Islamist-fundamentalist way of life" right in the middle of Austria. A potential breach, where entire groups submit to Sharia instead of Austrian civil law, must be prevented, emphasized the ÖVP Secretary General. "Our fundamental values and the Austrian legal system are the cornerstones of social coexistence, ensuring fairness across ideological and religious boundaries. This is non-negotiable."
FPÖ warned of "Islamic parallel societies"
In the currently controversial case, initially reported by "Die Presse," two men had agreed that the arbitration court should decide contractual disputes based on Islamic legal regulations. However, one of the men questioned the legality after he was required to pay 320,000 euros following an arbitration decision. Sharia is interpreted differently by scholars, and invoking it violates the fundamental values of Austrian law. However, the LG confirmed the arbitration award because the result did not contradict Austrian fundamental values. Islamic legal regulations could be "effectively agreed upon in an arbitration agreement" for property claims.
FPÖ constitutional spokesperson Michael Schilchegger saw this as an enhancement of "Islamic parallel societies" on Tuesday. "If Austrian courts now also recognize arbitration awards based on 'Sharia,' they submit to the will of fanatical Islamists," he warned in a statement. Schilchegger called for a "swift and decisive response from the constitutional legislator" and announced another legislative proposal from the FPÖ to amend the Islam Law, which aims to prevent the implicit recognition and application of Sharia by Austrian authorities and courts. "If Austrian governments do not finally act as a reform force but accept what courts decide in the ivory tower, then soon it will be Islamic courts!" said Schilchegger.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.