AUSTRIA: INTEGRATION STUDY SHOWS TURKS LAGGING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VIENNA 001426

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA: INTEGRATION STUDY SHOWS TURKS LAGGING

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1. (U) Summary: A recent study by the Interior Ministry indicates
that Turks in Austria are lagging behind other immigrants in terms
of integration. According to the study, Turks feel less integrated
than other immigrants, believe they face more discrimination, and
tend to identify themselves as Muslim more than as Austrian.
Interior Ministry Fekter responded to the study with a set of
proposals designed to encourage the integration of Muslims,
particularly women, in the workforce. End Summary.

Study Results
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2. (U) The study found that 83 percent of immigrants in Austria feel
"fully" (36 percent) or "mostly" (47 percent) integrated. In the
case of Turkish immigrants, only 26 percent feel fully integrated
while 55 percent feel mostly integrated.


3. (U) Asked about whether religious law or state law was more
important, a majority of immigrants - 54 percent - named state law,
while 28 percent cited religious law. Among Turks, however, the
results were reversed, with 57 percent choosing religious law and 28
percent state law. According to the study, young Turks (most of
whom were born in Austria),those with less education, and women who
are not employed identify more closely with Islam than others in the
Turkish community. Moreover, the study indicated Turks in Austria
socialize primarily within their own, parallel community and consume
primarily Turkish-language media.


4. (U) Other results from the study include:

-- More than 75 percent of immigrants consider learning German "very
important."

-- 85 percent of immigrants regard good education for their children
as their most important goal.

-- 57 percent of immigrants say they face racism and xenophobia in
Austria, and 46 percent believe immigrants lack opportunity.

-- 53 percent of Turkish immigrants believe they are discriminated
against by the Austrian state, and nearly two thirds say they have
had negative experiences with the majority population.

Comments on the Study
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5. (U) A number of Austrian Muslims and integration experts
responded to the study by emphasizing the roots of the Turkish
community in the recruitment of unskilled Turkish labor as "guest
workers" in the 1970s. Most remained in Austria and petitioned for
their family members to join them. As the demand for unskilled
labor declined, many lacked the education and training to find new
jobs.


6. (U) The Austrian state, meanwhile, for a long time failed to
provide support that might have helped the Turks integrate into
Austrian society. As a result, many retreated into a kind of
parallel society and began to identify themselves as Muslim,
regardless of whether they practiced the faith (Note: a recent
survey of Austrian Muslims indicated that only about 20 percent
attend mosque regularly). Therefore, these experts maintain,
Muslims choosing religious law over state law in the Interior
Ministry study may have simply been expressing their sense of
identity as Muslims, rather than advocating Sharia.

Interior Minister Responds
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7. (U) In reaction to the study, Interior Minister Fekter proposed a
set of measures aimed at integrating immigrants into the labor
market and promoting gender equality. Fekter wants to stipulate
that child support payments, provided for children up to age 18, be
paid only on the condition that children are attending school or an
apprenticeship program. The Interior Minister maintains that this
measure will ensure that more young Turkish women receive the
education and training they need to find employment. According to
labor market figures, one third of Turkish girls stay at home after
turning 16, without receiving any further education or securing
employment. Fekter also proposed that immigrants pledge an oath to
the Austrian flag when they obtain citizenship in order to enhance
identification with the Austrian state. Fekter's critics argue that
there are not enough apprenticeship positions available for the
entire 16-18 population.

Comment: Muslims are Focus of Immigration Anxieties
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7. (SBU) The results of this study support what we have seen in
other surveys and observations - Muslims feel more alienated from

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Austrian society than other immigrant groups. And many Austrians,
in turn, feel particularly threatened by Muslim immigration. When
Austrians express their fears about integration, they are almost
always talking about Muslims. The rightwing Freedom Party has
exploited and fanned these fears with campaign rhetoric featuring
references to mosques, minarets, and the need to prevent Vienna from
"becoming Istanbul."