Learn about ZARA’s role in combating racism in Austria and the implications of the government being questioned about its funding.
Generous funding and auditing required
ZARA – short for Civic Courage and Anti-Racism – is one of Austria’s leading NGOs dedicated to monitoring and documenting discrimination and racism, including anti-Muslim racism.
Over the years, the organization has received substantial government funding, sometimes amounting to hundreds of thousands of euros annually from various federal ministries.
However, available information suggests aspects that warrant administrative and political scrutiny, particularly regarding the partners with whom the organization collaborates on its reports and activities.
“The Alliance Against Racism” Under Scrutiny
The questioning of MP Cinch – published on the Austrian Parliament’s website – focuses on the organization’s cooperation within the “Alliance Against Anti-Muslim Racism,” which was founded in May 2021. One of the most prominent figures associated with this alliance is Austrian political scientist Ferid Hafez, who co-authored the organization’s 2022 annual report.
The inquiry indicates that Hafez, who received EU funding, faces criticism regarding his alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, a point previously raised by the European Parliament in a resolution issued in April 2021. The inquiry also highlights the organization’s collaboration with the Austrian Muslim Youth (MJÖ), an organization that extremism researchers, such as Lorenzo Vidino, classify as part of the Muslim Brotherhood ecosystem.
This organization is accused of attempting to influence political processes. Furthermore, it is accused of mobilizing public opinion against laws related to combating political Islam.
Broader context: The Luxor process and the ongoing controversy
To understand the depth of this questioning, one must revisit “Operation Luxor,” carried out by Austrian authorities in November 2020. This was the largest peacetime security operation against activists and academics suspected of links to political Islam.
Although the Austrian judiciary later dropped the terrorism charges against Farid Hafez and ruled some of the raids illegal, ZARA adopted a strongly opposing stance. It documented its criticisms as “institutional racism.”
This divergence represents the core of the political conflict in Austria. While some politicians (like Czink) argue that these organizations use “anti-Muslim racism” as a political narrative to delegitimize criticism of religious practices or ideological currents, human rights activists and organizations like ZARA see these movements as an attempt to restrict civil society. They also view them as an attempt to stigmatize academics and activists.
Questions about funding and oversight standards
The parliamentary inquiry poses a series of direct questions to the Austrian government, questioning the criteria used to assess organizations’ eligibility for public funding. It also asks whether the government has conducted security checks on ZARA’s partners.
The MP demands to know if the government intends to conduct a comprehensive review of the funding landscape to ensure transparency and impartiality. Furthermore, it seeks assurances that public funds are not being misused to advance agendas that conflict with the state’s security and political objectives.
This parliamentary inquiry remains indicative of the ongoing polarization in Austria regarding the definition of “combating political Islam” versus “freedom of civil action,” presenting the government with a real challenge in striking a balance between protecting the state from extremism and maintaining the integrity and credibility of the civil society organizations it funds.
