VZCZCXRO1278
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHVI #1426/01 3101237
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061237Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3526
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES

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 
 
VIENNA 00001426  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶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 
------------- 
 
¶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 
--------------------- 
 
¶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 
-------------------------- 
 
¶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 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶7. (SBU) The results of this study support what we have seen in 
other surveys and observations - Muslims feel more alienated from 
 
VIENNA 00001426  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
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."