A court in Cairo has placed 35 organizations and 36 individuals on Egypt's anti-terror list for five years, including the Austrian association Liga Kultur, which operates the al-Nur-Moschee in Graz. The ruling, which targets suspected networks of the Muslim Brotherhood, comes after the association was investigated by Austrian state security in 'Operation Ramses' following the 2020 terrorist attack in Vienna.
The Dokustelle Politischer Islam has warned about Liga Kultur, describing it as a hub with ideological and personnel connections to the Muslim Brotherhood. The association and affected officials have rejected all accusations of terrorism, extremism, or illegal financing.
Legal limits in Austria
Austria's Ministry of Integration and Cultus stated that the current legal situation does not permit the closure of such a mosque. ÖVP minister Claudia Bauer said Austria needs the ban on political Islam demanded by Chancellor Christin Stocker. Liga Kultur is an official mosque community of the IGGÖ, and in Austria only the symbolism of the Muslim Brotherhood is banned, not the movement itself.
Broader crackdown on extremist-linked centers
In April, the Nationalrat voted in favor of closing the 'Imam-Ali-Zentrum' in Vienna-Floridsdorf, which is operated by a GmbH and is not declared as a mosque. The 'Krone' previously published screenshots including images of self-flagellation connected to the center, which shows proximity to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. The EU officially classifies the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization.