Racism Report 2009

Case report on racist incidents and structures in Austria

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ChriChristianstian HurskHurskyy SonSonjaja Kato MarMarianneianannnene KliKlKKlickacka Har Harryarryy KKopKopietziitietz NNiNic Nicoleolee KKrKrotschrootsch Claudia Laschan Michae Michaell LLudwigudwdwigg Mar Martinaarrttitininna Gegen LuLudwig-Faymannuddwwig-F-FaFaaymymmaannn

AnicAnicacaa MMaMatzka-Dojderatzkkaa-DoDDojdejddeer AAnAndreasnndrereaeaasMs MMailath-ailillaathth- ErnstEErnrnst MaurerMaurreer AAlAloAloislois Mayer Christian Meidlinger Ga Gabrieleaabbrriiele MörkMörk Ernst Nevrivy Georg AusgrenzungPPoPokPokornyorny Niedermühlbichler und BarbBarbarabara Novak Christian Oxonitsch Christian PeterPeterkaka HedHedwigwig Petrides ErnEErnstsstt PPfl fl egeegergeer SonSSonjajja TThoThomasmaas RReReindleinddl HanHaHanneloreannneneln ore Reischl RassismusRamRamskoglerammskosk gleg r Silvia Rubik Rudolf Schicker Katharina Schinner Karin Schrödl Ingrid Schubert Godwin Schuster Ulli Sima Gerhard Spitzer

Sybille Straubinger Friedrich Strobl Kurt Stürzenbecher Harald Troch Erich Valentin Heinz Vettermann Elisabeth Vitouch Kurt Wagner

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Omar Al-Rawi Norbert Bacher-Lagler Peko Baxant Susanne Bluma Renate Brauner Christian Deutsch Franz Ekkamp Veronika Floigl

Peter Florianschütz SandraSandra Frauenberger Kathrin Gaál DMichaelDMichael HäuplHäuppll VVoVolkmaroollkkmar HarwaneHarwanegggg Eva-Maria Hatzl Ernst Holzmann Heinz Hufnagl

Christian Hursky Sonjaa Kato Marianne Klicka FürHar Harryry KopKopietzietz Nicole Krotsch Cla Claudiaudidia LLaschanascchanann MMiMic MichaelhhaellL LLudwigudwuddwwiig Martina Ludwig-Faymann

Anica Matzka-Dojder AndreAndreaseas MailMailath-athh- Ernst Maurer Alois Mayer Christian MeidlMeidlingeringgerr Ga Gabrieleaabbrriiele Mörk Ernst NevrivyNevrivy Georg PokorPokornyrny Toleranz Niedermühlbichler und Barbara Novak Christ Christiantian OxonitscOxonitschh Christian Peterka HedHedwigwig Petrides ErnErnstnst PPfl fl egeegerr SonSoSSonjajaa ThoThTThomasmaass ReRReindleiinindl Hannelore Reischl Respekt.RaRamRRamskoglerammsskkkooggler Silvia Rubik Rudolf Schicker Katharina Schinner Karin Schrödl Ingrid Schubert Godwin Schuster Ulli Sima Gerhard Spitzer

EZA – NATÜRLICH FAIR NATÜRLICH FAIR Sybille Straubinger Friedrich Strobl Kurt Stürzenbecher Harald Troch Erich Valentin Heinz Vettermann Elisabeth Vitouch Kurt Wagner

Seit 1975 setzt die EZA – Österreichs größte Fair Trade Importorganisation – den Fairen Handel in die Praxis um. Aus anonymen ProduzentInnen werden Tanja Wehsely Sonja Wehsely Ernst Woller Jürgen Wutzlhofer Nurten Yilmaz Inge Zankl Menschen mit Gesicht und Stimme. In ihrem Angebot spiegeln sich Können und Kreativität von über 100 Partnerorganisationen in Afrika, Asien und Lateinamerika. Genuss und Ästhetik verbinden sich mit Verantwortung gegenüber Mensch und Natur zu einem sinnvollen Ganzen. Dafür stehen wir. SPÖ-Klubvorsitzender 6 7 Siegi Lindenmayr EZA Fairer Handel GmbH · Wenger Straße 5 · 5203 Köstendorf, Austria · T 06216/20200-0 · offi [email protected] · www.eza.cc Dafür arbeiten wir!

Inserate_zara_spwklub_20100131.indd 2 02.02.2010 16:51:28 Uhr 25422P_Image_A4.indd 1 30.08.2007 17:52:54 Uhr Artikel 19.1.: Jeder User hat Table of contents

11 Preface

13 Statistics 2009 das Recht auf 15 Public space 15 Steets, public transport etc.

22 Internet

25 Politics and the media freie Meinungs- 27 Racist smearings 28 Police

33 Other public authorities and public institutions

35 Work äußerung. 37 Goods and services 37 Housing

40 Bars, pubs, businesses and other service providers 44 Racism as a reaction to work against racism

46 Ten years ZARA – moral courage and anti-racism work

46 “No area of life has become freer from racism” - Interview with chairman and founding member Dieter Schindlauer

49 A dedicated team, generous donors and a good idea

53 ZARA’s international dimension

54 “ZARA holds a mirror up to society” - Interview with founding member Verena Krausneker

56 “One day I just had enough”

58 Numbers, numbers, numbers? Some background information to the racism report

60 Claims “10 years ZARA – moral courage und anti-racism work” 63 Glossary Preface

Preface

ZARA’s 10th birthday left its mark on the year 2009. Another point ZARA criticizes, is the basis on which This is also the 10th edition of ZARA’s Racism Report. the debate on integration and migration is coducted. We have therefore decided to use this occasion to The main problem consists in the polarization bet- consider what we have accomplished in the past ten ween allegedly homogeneous groups of the “Austri- years and have made these considerations the topic ans” and the “others”, which fuels prejudice. Acknowledgements of this Racism Report. Looking at the cases presented in the Racism Re- Another problem is that the focus is on the alleged Thanks to Nadine Bösch for proof reading free of charge. port over the past ten years, we unfortunately have to deficits “migrants” are supposed to bring with them, state that only little has changed. The issues steadily instead of on achieving equal opportunities for all. Thanks to the many volunteers in the ZARA team! On and continuously occupying the counselling center Thereby, unfortunately, the two governing coalition their behalf we would like to mention those who con- were verbal and physical assaults in public space, the parties also contribute to the discrimination of people tributed to the Racism Report: Agnes Eder, Monika Ju- police, discrimination in employment, the denial of living in Austria perceived to be “different”. ranek, Johanna Katzinger, Monika Muhr, René Rusch, access to bars and restaurants or shops, and – with in- Still, there are also reasons to celebrate the success Alexander Steffek. creasing frequency in recent times – neighbourhood of ZARA on the occasion of “10 years ZARA – moral conflict. In short: the statement that racism is present courage and anti-racism work”. A crucial achievement Thanks to the team of the ZARA counselling center for in all areas of life invariantly holds true also in the year consists in a situation where victims of discriminati- victims and witnesses of racism for their continued 2009. on do not remain isolated, but are empowered by our persitance and well founded anti-racism work. In addition, ZARA still remains the only organisa- legal team to realize their rights within in the given tion to document racist discrimination beyond the legal framework – although this is often a very difficult Thanks to Patrick Zesar, who once again helped with limits of what counts as a criminal offence. It is with task. the presentation of cases from the counselling center’s a bit of bitterness that we note, public institutions documentation for the readers of this report. are very much inclined to refer to ZARA and the Ra- Fighting against racism also means not allowing ra- cism Report in order to give an account of Austria’s cism to go unchallenged, but to take a stance against activities against racism vis à vis international orga- racism, with moral courage. Through numerous trai- nisations. At the same time, ZARA has to struggle for nings on the issues of anti-racism and moral courage – financial survival every year, again in 2009. The only in schools, in public institutions, private associations, public institution to a make continuous contribution or businesses – ZARA contributes to the recognition of over the years has been the City of Vienna. But even the value of cultural diversity and to people learning this contribution only suffices for running the coun- about accessible ways of becoming active themsel- selling center for half a year. Apart from that, there still ves. We consider it a very important success that the is no public instution that would financially support existence of ZARA also amounts to the existence of a ZARA continually, let alone substantially. lobby against racism in Austria, pointing out over and Impressum over again further necessary steps in this area. Ten years after its founding, the saddest conclusion for Over the past ten years, a great number of people Owner and publisher: Philosophy: The Racism Report is published annually and is ZARA is that there still is no clear committment on the have crucially contributed, inabling ZARA’s story to be ZARA – Zivilcourage und Anti-Rassismus-Arbeit delivered free of charge. The Report contains a selection of part of politicians and no corresponding measures for one of success, in spite of the many political challen- Luftbadgasse 14–16, 1060 Wien, racist assaults reported to ZARA in 2009. Thus the Racism Re- effective anti-racism and anti-discrimination policies. ges still lying ahead. We want to express our heartfelt ZVR: 236017119, http://www.zara.or.at port gives clear and open insight into the work of the ZARA Only slowly has a change in that direction taken place thanks to them for all their efforts. The tenth Racism ZARA is a non-profit organisation based in Vienna. counselling center for victims and witnesses. The Racism in the past year, which ZARA cautiously welcomes. Report also provides an occasion for us to thank the Report provides information regarding racist structures in Whereas these two topics initially were completely donors and those buying advertising space – without Chief Editor: Sonja Fercher Austria and is supplemented by relevant background infor- absent from integration policies, they have come to them, the report could not have been published this Editors: Sonja Fercher, Barbara Liegl, Stefan Radinger, René mation and interviews. be included in the National Action Plan for Integration year. Our thanks also go to the Federal Ministry of the Rusch, Patrick Zesar, Wolfgang Zimmer proposed in January 2010. As, however, funding for Exterior, which has been supporting the translation Advertising: Soma Ahmad, Anna Müller-Funk The team of the ZARA counselling center for victims and these measures is as yet a completely unclear matter, into English for several years now. Another big ‘thank Graphics and layout: schultz+schultz / Sabell-Christina Fabian witnesses of racism is available for appointments: scepticism prevails. you’ goes out to you, dear readers! English translation: Barbara Stanzl, Brett Fitzpatrick and Mon - Wed 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Thu 11 a.m. -7 p.m. It is not least the cases presented in the Racism Katharina Köhler Phone: (01) 929 13 99, Fax: (01) 929 13 99-99 Report, however, that show that our clients are the Just some remarks on the structure of the Racism Printing: Manz Crossmedia, 1050 Wien [email protected], http://www.zara.or.at ones that experience those problems that arise from, Report 2009: As already in the Racism Report 2008, Fotos: Johannes Zinner among other causes, the neglects of anti-racism and you will find reports on further developments of ca- Coverfoto: Andreas Schultz integration policies in Austria. The issues of migration ses from previous years under the heading “What has and integration continue to be exploited not alone by become of…?” in the individual chapters. The glossary provides explanations on core concepts and institu- Funded by: With friendly support from: the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the Future Alli- ance Austria (BZÖ) to maximize voter support – most tions mentioned. In the main text, an ➞ arrow poin- recently demonstrated impressively by the debate on ting at the relevant words draws your attention to the an initial asylum reception center in the Burgenland. existence of a respective entry in the Glossary.

10 11 Preface Statistics 2009

It remains for us to wish you an informative reading Sonja Fercher is editor-in-chief of the Racism Report experience – hoping that our accounts contribute to 2009, head of ZARA’s public relations unit and a free- Statistics 2009 increased awareness of racism in Austria and that this lance journalist focussing on (anti-)racism, migration/ year’s Racism Report is once again understood as a integration, France and Cyprus. From 2001 to 2008, she In 2009, the ZARA-Team documented a total of 798 Information regarding the individual call to fight the causes and structures of racist discri- was a journalist with derStandard.at. In 2008, she was racist incidents. mination. awarded the CNN Journalist Award in the category „on- categories and their definitions: line“. • Public Space refers to all incidents which occur in Sonja Fercher & Barbara Liegl places that are open to the general public without Against anti-racism work 6% Barbara Liegl is ZARA-CEO, director of the RAXEN Fo- restriction to a clearly defined group of people. For cal Point for Austria at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute Goods and services 14% example, this includes streets, public transport, shops, of Human Rights (BIM) (http://www.univie.ac.at/bim/ Public Space* 65% bars and restaurants, the media, and the political arena. focalpoint), head of the anti-discrimination and asylum Work 4% Racist smearings are also included in this category. team at BIM, vice-chaiperson of the Network Social Res- ponsibility (http://www.sozialeverantwortung.at) and a • Police encompasses all reports which are in some political scientist focussing on (anti-)racism/discrimina- Other public authorities and institutions 4% way or other related to the administration of public tion, monitoring and migration. Police 7% security and its officials.

• Other public authorities and public institutions refers to incidents taking place between private indi- viduals and public institutions and authorities or their * The 514 cases recorded in this area included 179 racist representatives with the exception of the police. For smearings. example, this includes government offices, prisons, schools, etc.

• Goods and Services firstly refers to incidents in the In 2009, the proportion of witnesses among the per- area of housing – from flat hunting to neighbourhood sons reporting to ZARA was 61 %. 29 % of ZARA’s conflicts. Secondly, this category includes all incidents www.fsg.or.at clients were directly affected, 10 % of the cases were regarding the access to bars and restaurants, shops documented by the ZARA team in the framework of and other service providers (unless they fall into the monitoring carried out at irregular intervals. category “Work”).

SOZIAL, SICHER, GERECHT • Work includes all incidents that are “work”-related

Monitoring 10% in a broad sense, i.e., the labour market, looking for a job, working conditions, work place atmosphere, job adverts, etc.

• Racism as a reaction to anti-racism work refers to letters, e-mails, phone calls and threats directed Affected persons 29% against ZARA and other institutions speaking out Witnesses 61% against racism.

Remarks:

The tasks of ZARA counsellors include both verifiying the statements of fact given to them, and to act as the 43 % of ZARA’s clients were women, 46 % men, 2 % of other parties’ or third parties’ perspective. Neverthe- the cases were reported anonymously, 9 % were re- less, the counselling team cannot guarantee that all ported by organisations. the information they receive – from various sides – is “true”. The interests of the individuals turning to the counselling center have top priority: his or her ac-

Anonymous 2% counts are taken seriously. However, this may not lead DISKRIMINIERUNG Organisations 9% to uncritical adoption of these accounts.

Women IST KEINE KLEINIGKEIT 43% Furthermore, ZARA is aware of the fact that, by de- picting racist assault, racist slander and prejudice, or by - basically needlessly – pointing out a persons Und wer zu Diskriminierung schweigt, erzeugt Komplizenschaft. Die Fraktion Sozialdemokratischer GewerkschafterInnen kämpft gegen Men 46% ethnic or religious origin or other traits leading to Diskriminierung am Arbeitsplatz und will gute Jobs mit guten Einkommen für alle Menschen aus Österreich und aus anderen Ländern, that person being discriminated against – all this is

die hier leben. Dafür brauchen wir verstärkte Integrationsbemühungen. Geben wir Rassismus keine Chance! iStockphoto Foto: reproduced. ZARA strives for linguistics sensitivity;

12 13 Statistics 2009 Public Space · Steets, public transport etc.

the depiction of racisms is done in the clear context In order to avoid the reproduction of racisms, the N- of rendering racism in Austria visible. If ZARA refrai- word is not spelled out. When quotations are edited Public Space ned from that – in order to avoid the reproduction of by ZARA in this sense, this is signalled by [*]. racisms – this would further the continued denial of For more on anti-racist language use, see: Racism When ZARA is informed of incidents, the question always arises of whether racism was really involved, and whether racism. Report 2006, http://www.zara.or.at/materialien/rassis- it should be taken seriously. The accusation of getting bogged down in irrelevancies is not just levelled by people mus-report/rassismus-report-2006.pdf who would be against ZARA anyway. If one is simply attempting to enforce “political correctness”, as some of even our supporters feel is sometimes the case, one can become entangled in irrelevancies and miss the “real racism”. This past year the new ice cream by Unilever called “Mohr im Hemd” [Moor in a Shirt] provoked intense debate, bringing this very question into sharp focus. It seemed that many felt as though some part of tradition would be lost if this pudding were to be called by a less controversial name. But is this really just a side issue? Our clear answer is no. Because even though the term “moor” does not have the same associations as the N-word for many Austrians, it cannot simply be ignored that the term “moor” has its origins in racist colonial times. The origins of such words cannot simply be ignored, even if it simply a dessert, the associations connected with it are perpetuated – and the prejudice is carried forward. But despite all this, an ambivalent feeling remains. How is it that an ice cream of all things can make the eve- ning news while discrimination in the housing market, in people’s everyday lives and the employment market, are never given the same attention? And this, even though those affected suffer much more from the former than from the name of an ice cream. The effects are reduced living standards, stress, less money and fewer chances for fulfilling employment, due to the fact that they are unable to find a position that compensates accordingly with their qualifications. It is a basic question that ZARA is constantly faced with. How can racism in Austria be seen as serious issue when the name of an ice cream generates more concern than the personal experiences and stories that should form the basis of the campaign?

Steets, public transport etc.

Mr H was born in Africa and works in Vienna as a In June Ms R told ZARA about the following inci- 1 delivery man. When he was walking in Vienna in 2 dent, which happened at Fuschlsee in Salzburg. March a raw egg suddenly fell on the ground in front Ms R was driving to the lake with her partner, of Ni- of him. He looked up and saw an old woman at a win- gerian descent, to go swimming. Shortly after arriving dow, who was trying to hit him with eggs. Eventually around ten youths came up to them and made fun of she actually managed to hit him with one of the eggs. her partner's skin colour. Among other things, they Mr. H did not want to ignore the incident and called shouted, “Yuk, now I can't go in the water, because a the police. N... [*]'s been in there!” and, “Hey, look at that, the N... After several phone calls, two officers arrived. Mr [*] he's behaving really stupidly!” H pointed out the window and the officers inquired Her partner did not understand the youth's dialect within for the woman. She denied having thrown the and asked Ms R to translate. She did not tell him the egg and the officers returned to the street. In front of whole truth to spare his feelings, and begged to go. the building they told Mr H that there was ‘nothing When they reached the car she broke down in tears. they could do’, as it was a civil matter. They also made She did not know how to protect herself from such the point of telling Mr H, if he had just carried on an assault. ZARA gave Ms R information about the instead of stopping he wouldn't have been hit by the law and advised her to contact various associations in egg, and then they left the scene. her hometown of Linz for personal counselling about Shortly afterwards the old lady shouted out of the what to do in the face of such an assault. window that the, “bloody n...[*]” could now “get lost.” Mr H gave up and went on his way. In early May, Ms T was a witness to the following ZARA informed Mr H that this was not a civil inci- 3 incident. A woman of Polish descent was riding a dent that racially motivated attacks and insults fall tram in Vienna with her two children. An old woman under the jurisdiction of the federal prosecutor. Mr H got on, and dislodged the children brusquely from just wanted to know that the incident had been do- their seats, so that she could put her bags there. The cumented. mother of the two children asked the woman if it was

15 Public Space · Steets, public transport etc. Public Space · Steets, public transport etc.

really necessary to move the children for the sake of Mr T is of Turkish descent and was on his way young woman's support, and then accompanied her rian neighbours, and did nothing about the racist in- two bags. The old woman then started to insult the 7 home in the car with his wife in April. As Mr on her way. Mr G felt it his duty as a witness to make sults. There has been no further communication with mother. Among other things, calling her an, “old for- T turned into the street where he lives a pedestrian the public aware of this racist intimidation, and asked family B at the time of this report. eign bag who shouldn't even be here.” suddenly stepped out in front of him from behind a ZARA to document the incident. Ms T interjected, because the mother was not de- container, forcing Mr T to brake sharply to avoid a col- A poster to an article on the homepage of an fending herself, probably because she did not want to lision. The pedestrian immediately started shouting at Mr B and his family are of Turkish descent and 11Austrian radio broadcaster reporting on the make a scene in front of her children. Ms T asked the Mr T, telling him to watch where he was going and cal- 10 live in the 11th district of Vienna. On New film “Operation Valkyrie” reported an incident that old woman to desist with her racist tirade and to allow ling him a “bloody foreigner”. To avoid further insults Year's Eve of 2008/2009 he went at around10pm with they had experienced at the end of a screening at a ci- the children back in their seats. The aggressor then Mr T drove the short remaining distance to his house his stepson out into his building's courtyard to set off nema in Vienna. As the final credits were rolling some complained to the driver who ignored her. The old where he parked in front of the door. fireworks. A visibly intoxicated neighbour and his son cinemagoers sprang to their feet and shouted, “Long woman eventually left the tram, still hurling insults The pedestrian followed him however, and once were standing on the opposite side of the courtyard. live Adolf Hitler!” and told the mother that, “Hitler had the right idea.” again began to hurl insults. Mrs T gestured to her hus- The neighbour aimed fireworks at them like a pistol ZARA documented this incident as part of occasio- ZARA documented the incident. band that they had better go to avoid further trouble. across the courtyard, and sparks and flames came un- nal media monitoring. She was suddenly attacked by the pedestrian, recei- comfortably close to Mr B and his son on numerous In May, Ms L informed ZARA of an experience ving a slap to the face which left her stunned and on occasions. Mr B's stepson approached the man with In January, Ms R witnessed the following inci- 4 a friend of hers, Mr K who was born in Gambia, the ground. Mr T immediately rang the police who ar- the fireworks and asked that he use more care. The 12 dent, and requested that ZARA document it. had. As he was standing at a bus stop in Styria in Up- rived shortly afterwards and took his statement. neighbour began to hurl insults including, “Bloody A man was standing with a child at a tram stop in the per Austria an approx. 40-year-old man rode past on a Some weeks later Mrs T received a summons. She wogs! Bastards!” Mr B then approached the man and 2nd district. From their traditional clothing it was clear bike. He slowed down and spat on the ground in front was accused of attacking the pedestrian, who must demanded that he cease his increasingly insulting that they were both Jewish. A group of young men of Mr K saying, “bloody n...[*] you give me the creeps!” have injured himself in slapping her and who told the language. Finally the stepson struck the man in the screamed neo-Nazi slogans at the pair. Ms R reques- ZARA documented the incident. police that she had attacked him. face when he refused to stop hurling insults about Mr ted the men to stop, and the men then included her in ZARA advised Mrs T to give a statement, to descri- B and his family. Mr B separated the two. The neigh- their insults. Ms R felt physically threatened, and was In November, Ms S told ZARA about the following be the incident to the police once more and in detail, bour then removed his belt and used it as a weapon frightened that she would be attacked by the men, incident. Two young men were talking on a tram and to indicate that there were two witnesses whose against Mr B and his stepson. 5 which thankfully did not happen. ZARA forwarded in Vienna. Ms S thought perhaps that they or their pa- details the police took. Unfortunately ZARA has not Mr B's older son then came into the yard and se- the incident to the ➞ Vienna Office for Protection of rents were of Filipino descent. As one of the men got been contacted again by Mr and Mrs T after they gave parated the two sides. He went to the police station, the Constitution and the Fight Against Terrorism, the off the tram an old woman turned to the second man their statements. which was less than 100 meters away, to get help. ➞ Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance and and asked him where he was from. He answered that While he was doing this Mrs B came into the yard and the ➞ Forum Against Antisemitism. he was Austrian and was born in Vienna. The woman In June, Ms R sent ZARA an article from Wiener became involved in the conflict between the neigh- answered that he couldn't be Austrian, because only Bezirksjournal about an incident in Floridsdorf. bour and her son-in-law, which had burst back into 8 Mr L accompanied a group of carol singers whites could be Austrian. The young man did not res- Two Austrians of Turkish descent were jogging along life. The neighbour pulled out a clump of Mrs B's hair, into a bar in Lower Austria. As is a local cus- pond. ZARA documented the incident. the Marchfeldkanal. A woman walking her sheepdog, and the approx. 15-year-old son of the neighbour 13 tom one of the children's face was painted black. set it on them with the words, “Get 'em” and all the threw punches at her. The neighbour was still hurling When a group of young male patrons with a dog saw Over the course of the summer, ZARA received two women could do to avoid attack was to jump in insults the whole time, and had even begun to shout the carol singer he said, “You'd better go, the dog is several complaints about an Austrian ice cream the water. The two joggers demanded that the wo- “Heil Hitler” and “Sieg Heil”. 6 trained to kill N.. [*]!” The carol singers quickly left the maker's newest product, which was being marketed man call off her dog, but the only answer they recei- Finally around five officers arrived on the scene, by establishment. Mr L requested that ZARA document under the name “Mohr im Hemd” [Moor in a Shirt] and ved was, “Bloody foreigners.” this time the aggressive neighbour was being held promoted with the slogan, “I want moor!” Members of When the two women went to the next police stati- back by some friends. Mrs B and her son-in-law wan- the incident. the Austrian black community (including http://www. on to report the incident they were told that a person ted to report the incident, but the police only took the afrikanet.info), anti-racism initiatives like ZARA and could not be reported for letting a dog off the lead. An names and addresses of those involved. The neigh- In February, Ms M went for a walk in a park some journalists criticised the use of the term “moor” officer of the Vienna Police, asked to comment by Be- bour continued hurling racist insults at the family B, 14 in Graz with her three-year-old son. Her son as racist based on its origins in the colonial period. zirksjournal, said the incident would be “thoroughly” but when Mr B's daughter shouted at the neighbour has dark hair. As they were approaching the play area A lively discussion ensued on the forums of the FM4 investigated. As ZARA was not contacted by the peo- she was taken aside by the police and told to calm insults were hurled, that she was, “an old Turkish bag.” radio station, in which advocates of using non-racist ple involved, the incident can only be documented via down. All the while the neighbour carried on using ra- Despite this her son still wanted to stay and play with language and people who didn't want their traditio- the news report. cial epithets, and was the only one asked if he would another child. This child's father suddenly shouted, nal dessert taken away confronted each other. Similar like to report the matter, which he declined. Eventu- “Get lost! You stupid Turkish pig!” at her son. Ms M was discussions were found on the forums of newspapers In June, Mr G sent a letter to the Vienna City au- ally the officers left. Mrs B and her son-in-law drove appalled by these events and requested that ZARA like derstandard.at and diepresse.com. Some of the 9 thority, various media and ZARA about the fol- to hospital, and the following Monday went to the document the incident. contributions can be read in the press review at http:// lowing incident that he wanted to make them aware public medical officer where they reported the inci- www.zara.or.at/index.php/archive/2645. of. Mr G lives with his family near a wine bar in the 9th dent. Shortly afterwards, her son-in-law received a Ms O was born in the Netherlands and grew- The criticism convinced the ice cream manufactu- district of Vienna. As a direct neighbour, he is often summons to appear at court as the accused. 15 up in Austria. In March she sent us an e-mail rer not to continue the large-scale advertising cam- disturbed by the visibly intoxicated and noisy guests Mrs B and her son-in-law turned to ZARA, where telling us of the constant abuse she was receiving from paign. The ice cream did however retain its name. in the garden at the rear of the bar. In early June he saw she was informed of her legal rights. It was suggested “immigrant youths” in Innsbruck. She wanted to know ZARA sent a letter to Unilever, outlining its criticism a young black woman walk by the garden. A group of that the family be accompanied to the upcoming hea- if ZARA would regard it as racist intimidation if she and suggesting a meeting to discuss these issues. Uni- intoxicated drinkers hurled insults, calling her a “black ring and the case be transferred to the White Ring. Un- was called a “white bitch” or “bloody Austrian whore.” lever has indeed agreed to the suggested meeting, whore.” When the young woman defended herself, til the legal charges against the son are resolved, the ZARA confirmed that these racist incidents would be but this meeting did not take place in time for a report the waitress joined in and shouted, “Get lost you N... family will refrain from lodging a complaint against documented by the advice centre and asked for more to be included in this publication. [*]!” The drinkers hurled more insults, and loudly swo- the police officers, whom obviously saw the incident details about the individual incidents. Ms O did not re about “bloody wogs.” Two bystanders came to the exclusively as an attack by the B family on their Aust- reply.

16 17 Public Space · Steets, public transport etc. Public Space · Steets, public transport etc.

In late April Ms Y went for a walk in the 8th dis- One morning this September, Ms E was tra- aggression, especially because she had never been he, with the help of the witnesses who had gathered 16 trict of Vienna with her husband, who is of Se- 20 velling on the metro in Vienna. A young pas- exposed to such insults before. ZARA documented at the incident, would report her for breaking the negalese descent. She was seven months pregnant. As senger with a Viennese accent complained to the two the incident. law and defamation. The younger woman simply re- she passed the terrace of a café one of a group of men women in the neighbouring seats, who were not of plied that she had nothing to fear from a “wog” and shouted “Blutschande!” [racial blood weakening]. Mrs Y Austrian descent and wore headscarves, that they In September Mr R informed ZARA, using went into the petrol station to pay her bill. Then she was too shocked to react. She was also frightened that were “talking too loud.” When one of the women de- 23 the form on our homepage (http://www. returned to the car and drove away with her mother. she or her husband could be physically attacked. She fended herself and said they were talking at a normal zara.or.at/rassismusmelden), that he had been called a Another customer told Mr T that he might have been was especially worried about what might happen to volume, a different woman said, “I vote that we end “bloody Austrian” by Turks in Vienna. He had also been born here but he wasn't a “real” Austrian and should her unborn child if it were ever to meet people like the- this discussion.” Then the man got to his feet and befo- told to, “get lost out of our country” because Austria go back home because the whole thing was his fault se. She requested that ZARA document the incident. re alighting at Schwedenplatz station he turned to the belonged to the Turks. ZARA documented the infor- anyway. women again and said, “And I vote that you get bug- mation. As Mr R had not entered contact details it was Mr T went to the police station the next day and re- Mr H and his brother are black Austrians. On ger off out of the country.” In passing another woman not possible for ZARA employees to elicit further infor- ported the incident. He asked ZARA to document this 17 the 1st of May Mr H and his brother were said that they should not take it personally and that mation, e.g about the place and time of the incident. case. At the time of this report the case is still being travelling down the escalators at the Schwedenplatz he was “an idiot.” Ms E requested that ZARA document investigated. metro station in Vienna with his brother's girlfriend. A the incident. Ms A was born in Hungary and has lived in young man was travelling on an escalator in the other 24 Austria for ten years. She has a detectable In February Ms K informed ZARA that a sti- direction. He insulted Mr H and his brother, calling Ms S is an Austrian citizen. She asked if she Hungarian accent. In September she was driving on 26 cker had been placed on her neighbours car them “bimbos.” Mr H's brother protested, and the man 21 could also access the advice centre at ZARA a major road in Upper Austria. A car turned onto the with a picture of Mohammed as a pig above the words switched escalators and ran down toward the two brot- as an Austrian. She recounted various incidents. She road and swerved in front of her. Ms A was forced to “Islam No Thanks.” hers in a very aggressive manner on their escalator. He had recently been kicked for no reason by two youths break suddenly in order to avoid a collision. She fol- ZARA informed Ms K of the possibility of reporting insulted the brother as “Bloody N...[*].” He then aimed who were not of Austrian descent as they passed her lowed the car to a supermarket car park in order to the matter as inciting racial hatred and under laws on a blow at Mr H's brother's head, luckily only connecting on the pavement on bicycles. Their only reaction to discuss the incident with the driver. This conversation sacrilege. Ms K only wished to have the matter docu- lightly, then followed them and harassed them. Mr H her anger was, “Get lost, you Austrian whore!” became heated when the driver refused to accept mented. and his brother refused to be provoked and quickly On another day she was walking on a quite out-of- that he had made a mistake. He swore about “lady escaped the aggressor when they reached the station the-way street behind the attractions in the Prater dis- drivers“ in general and then told Ms A, “Get back to In early April, Ms C was attending a conference concourse. He turned back around and went back up trict of Vienna during the day. Four young men spoke Yugoslavia!” 27 for tax advisers. During a presentation about the escalator muttering insults under his breath. ZARA to her in a language that she did not understand. She Ms A requested that ZARA document the incident. tax deductions the speaker told the approximately documented the incident. shrugged her shoulders and said that she couldn't She added that she is often advised to go “back home” 2,000 strong audience, “You can, for example, donate understand a word they were saying. One of the men in a similar fashion, and that this incident was nothing to a tribe of N...[*] in Africa.“ One of the other speakers In June the ➞ Forum Against Antisemitism pulled a knife and said, “What's your problem, why unusual. It did seem to her though that such verbal at- commented, “Oh, you can't say that.” Ms C felt that this 18 informed us of the following incident. Around don't you like foreigners?” Ms S ran away. tacks were becoming ever more common and racism comment was not really intended as a criticism be- midnight three men and one woman were among the ever more acceptable. She wanted, therefore, to make cause of the tone of voice it was said in. She contacted passengers at the Donauinsel metro station. One of the A ZARA employee told Ms S that anyone who had her protest against racism with this report. the speaker via e-mail and indicated the insulting and shaven-headed men was walking along the platform been discriminated against due to their ethnic back- racist character of the words that had been used. The with his fighting dog, which was not muzzled, shou- ground could contact ZARA. The incidents were also Mr T is an Austrian citizen, he studies at the speaker wrote back, “It was the furthest thing from my ting, “Where's the wogs? Where's the wogs?” His three documented and Ms S was advised to inform ZARA 25 University of Vienna and his parents were intention to insult or hurt anyone, and if this was the friends were following him and abusing the waiting immediately after any future incident, so that legal born in Egypt. In June Mr T was on his way to fill his pa- case I apologise.” Ms C requested that ZARA document passengers. When the four, who were obviously neo- action could be taken in good time. Ms S was thankful rents car with petrol. At the petrol station he noticed the incident. Nazis, reached the centre of the platform they raised for the information and said that she would tell both that he had stopped on the wrong side of the pump their hand in the Nazi salute and shouted, „Sieg heil! her “native” and “foreign” friends about the availability and so started to quickly turn round and drive back Mr D is a doctor at the Medical School in Graz. Sieg heil!“ Then the woman pulled out a pepper spray of ZARA's support. so that the petrol cap would be on the correct side. 28 He was born in Uganda, but has lived in Aust- and attacked the people around her, provoking severe But before he could return to the pump a car darted in ria for almost 20 years and is an Austrian citizen. In late coughing fits in some of them. The incident was pro- A journalist from Upper Austria informed front and took his place. He watched as a middle-aged August he went to the nearby post office after work. secuted by the ➞ Vienna Office for Protection of the 22 ZARA of the following incident and reques- woman got out and started to fill her car. There he waited in a cue for some time until it was his Constitution and the Fight Against Terrorism. ted a comment for an article. Ms P is a young doctor Mr T got out of his car and attempted to make the turn at the counter. As he was going to give his pa- ZARA documented the incident as part of its irregu- whose parents are from Cameroon. She was travelling woman aware that he had actually been at the pump ckage to the friendly employee a well-dressed man of lar media monitoring. home from work in Linz on the local bus. She sat down before her. However her only reply was that as a “bloo- around 60 barged in and pushed him aside and shou- and put her bag on the seat beside her, which seemed dy wog and bloody foreigner“ he should be happy ted, “You filthy black African, you're taking much too In early September Mrs U was standing in the to be free. She then started reading a book to pass the to be in Austria at all. Then the woman's mother got long. Get lost and let us citizens go first. Get back to 19 Schottentor area of central Vienna. An alter- time. out of the car and told him he was “scum” and that he Africa, you filthy N...[*]!“ cation broke out between taxi drivers about who was A woman of around 50 got on at one of the next should go on his way. A number of post office employees told Mr D before whom in the cue. One driver insulted the other, stops and sat opposite Ms P. Suddenly the woman said Mr T informed the woman that he found this be- that they were sorry and that they had never experi- who was black, shouting, “Get back home to your tree!” to Ms P, “Put your stuff on the floor will you. You N...[*] haviour monstrous. The younger woman then told Mr enced anything like it. Mr D then left the branch and When Mrs U interjected, because of this racist insult, s don't need to take our seats too!” The woman then T that Hitler would probably have burned “his type.” hurried to the nearby police station. A police officer she was threatened with physical violence. She left and carried on with a tirade of abuse during which she ac- When informed that this was “Nazi language” the accompanied Mr D to the post office and spoke with reported the incident to ZARA, leaving her details in cused Ms P of, among other things, abusing Austrian younger woman told him that she was a “Nazi” and the assailant, who was still there. The police office case the driver who was insulted also contacted ZARA. social security and being a prostitute, and warned her did the Nazi salute in his direction. eventually told Mr D that the incident could not be This did not happen however, meaning that the inci- to watch out or she might be facing a smack in the “gob.” Mr T told the younger woman that this was all reported because no one had been hurt. He was not dent could only be documented. Ms P was absolutely appalled by the unjustified being recorded by the petrol station CCTV and that even prepared to make a note of anyone's identity.

18 19 Public Space · Steets, public transport etc. Public Space · Steets, public transport etc.

Although the incident was clearly an offence of What happened to... ? “➞ racist harassment” that the police officer was re- quired to document, he described it as “petty” and Case 15 Racism Report 2008 Events of 2009: allowed the assailant to go. Mr D could not believe that the police would not Ms R lives and studies in Graz, her father is Indian, her At a jury trial in December, the leader of the group was help him after this verbal assault. He collected the mother from Syria. In December 2008 when visiting given a determined sentence of 15 months as well as contact details of a number of the post office em- a bar in Bad Gastein with her boyfriend and an ac- an undetermined fine for revival of National Socialism ployees, who were willing to act as witnesses in any quaintance, she was racially insulted and assaulted by and actual bodily harm. He was additionally required further legal action, and contacted ZARA. ZARA do- a group of young men. The leader of the group injured to pay reparations to Ms R's boyfriend. Der Standard cumented the incident and advised Mr D to contact Ms R's boyfriend and accused him of “Blutschande” reported on the trial in detail: Helping Hands Graz for personal advice. At the time [weakening racial blood by interbreeding]. Finally he http://derstandard.at/1262209306928/Gericht-Hitler- of this report there have been no new developments screamed “Sieg Heil” accompanied by the Nazi salute. gruss-und-Rassenschande in the case. A police investigation has been opened.

In late November ZARA was informed by 29 a witness that in the night a racist banner saying, “A Mosque Here? No! AR Foreigners Out” had been hung on the external wall of a church in Vienna's 11th district. A few days later it became clear from a report on a neo-Nazi website that “free activists” from a group calling itself “Resistance South” had hung ban- ners on 13 churches that night. ZARA was informed that the ➞ Vienna Regional Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Fight Against Terrorism has begun investigations; at the time of publishing there were no new developments in the case.

At a local derby match between the two Vi- 30 enna football teams, Rapid and Austria Wien on the 22nd November, Rapid supporters displayed a banner showing Adolf Hitler as a character from the Simpsons TV show. Underneath was the slogan “Death to the FAK (abbreviation for Austria Wien).” ZARA documented the incident as part of irregular media monitoring.

At a championship game between Austria 31 Wien and LASK on 7th March at the Franz- Horr-Stadion, a small but loud group of LASK sup- porters shouted antisemitic and far-right chants such as, “Vienna Jews, Vienna Jews” and “Linz is totally extreme-right“. According to a report on the Austrian Soccer Board fan forum some courageous LASK fans tried to stop the far-right shouting. Due to these, and similar, incidents, the Fair Play initiative is offering in- creased cooperation to prevent racism and far-right activity.

Für eine WeltGrün ohne statt Rassismus! Rechts

www.gruene.at

20 Rassismus_inserat_200x141mm.indd 1 21 01.02.2010 14:52:13 Uhr Public Space · Internet Public Space · Internet

Internet this re-education centre.” Other users thought the slo- Just before Christmas, Ms A reported one of gan was “good” or “amusing and intelligent.” A diffe- 37 the user groups on a social network that she rent user thought of it as a “jumping off point” to warn thought had racist goals. The description of the group While performing an online search Mr R “[... Many] don't want to admit that in some districts the German people of “their complete destruction by contains the following comments: 32 found the homepage of a Carinthian beve- there are nests of cavemen from Anatolia and Arabian Muslims (..) Nobody is interested that they aren't all “No one can afford anything any more! Foreigners rage manufacturer, where users posted items inclu- primitives. Unemployment is at 60% - they don't know Turk Muslims, the Muslims here are more a synonym are getting everything they want! Austria is a beau- ding racist jokes. He was shocked at the material and what to do with their overdeveloped muscles and for the whole bunch of our cultural interlopers.“ ZARA tiful country; we should keep it for ourselves! All the informed ZARA. ZARA contacted the administrator of frustrations and their children are uneducated and for documented the case using media reports. others have their own country! Sometime it has to be the homepage, who was also shocked by the “jokes” the most part un-teachable. What can you do with a enough!!!! Wake up at last; the politicians are making and deleted them. He told ZARA that unfortunately rabble like this? Even our bleeding-heart know-it-alls In early April, Ms A contacted ZARA. She wan- fun of us!!!!! Austria takes everyone, but the ship is full! he could not check every post on the site before they don't have an answer.” 36 ted to document that racist comments were Who's going to pay for everything that our politicians were published and was grateful that they had been ZARA documented these racist posts as part of irre- regularly being posted on reports of a major Austrian have messed up??? Carinthia perhaps? There's talk brought to his attention. He posted to the forum to gular media monitoring. newspaper’s website by forum members, and were vi- of an asylum centre in Burgenland?? Who's going to indicate that his homepage was no place for racist hu- sible online for extended periods. She wrote, “I am sho- pay for it?? Nobody can afford to live, and we're wor- mour. A discussion about racism then developed on Ms T discovered a group on an Internet plat- cked! On almost every article about immigrants there ried about all the others??? We have to finally wake the forum. The administrator stood firm in his point of 34 form in January with the title “Wer A sagt are racists comments. […] In the forum discussions up!!!!!!!!“ view and to his civic duty, reiterating that posts, which muss auch Dolf sagen“ [If you say A you have to say they are rarely mentioned. Rude comments about At time of this report the group had 350 members. were insulting to others, would not be tolerated on his dolf too]. She informed the operator about this group, people, ZARA, AI, etc are much more common.“ A complaint is being prepared. site. but received only the following in answer: “Please only ZARA would like to document some of the posts use the report button if you want to report a concre- here: Mr L discovered the following comment on In late July, a daily paper with a large circula- te infraction of the general terms and conditions! The 38 an Austrian politician's social network. 33 tion reported on an incident at a Vienna hos- button isn't just there for fun!“ ZARA contacted the “onkelheli writes 9/4/2009 19:04 “It's a shame our ADOLF HITLER is gone! I'd vote for pital, where a “Südlander” [originally meaning a Medi- operator of the site, who finally closed the offending Hello, I just think that everyone who feels we've been him again in a minute!!! You shouldn't be so surprised, terranean type, but now a newspaper euphemism for group. Ms T thanked ZARA for their successful inter- “racist” to them could happily go where it won't hap- because you're a lot worse. You're the worst. Hitler Muslim immigrant] had badly injured a patient of Aus- vention. pen, back home! would call you subhuman. Like I said, it's a shame he's trian descent during an argument. The newspaper's 18 readers agree.“ not around any more.“ online forum discussing the article included the fol- In February the following slogan was spray- Mr L requested that ZARA document the incident, lowing three postings: 35 ed on the external wall of the Mauthausen „rodimus thought on 9/4/2009 20:03 and offered a screenshot that he had taken for ZARA “You're run over on the zebra crossing and then Concentration Camp Memorial, “For our fathers the Austria wake up? From the grave, perhaps? Zara is just to use as proof of the comment. At time of writing Mr shouted at for your trouble, they always push in and Jews, for us the Muslim horde is at the door! 3rd World a political terrorist organisation. They are of course L had not sent the screenshot, which is necessary to when you say something, you get threatened or even War - 8th Crusade.” The text of the slogan was 70cm paid by other racists, from our taxes. By the way, whe- take further action, as the offending post has been attacked. They rape our children, break into houses, high and visible from a distance. Willi Mernyi from the re is the CIA and MI5 who should be fighting these or- deleted. rob us, and all this just so big companies can get che- Mauthausen Committee suspects “organised far-right ganisations? Zara is probably a pawn in the game of ap labour (9 out of 10 come to live on our social secu- extremists” of being behind the incident. destabilizing Austria, and we're supporting them. Ms F reported posts to ZARA on an Internet rity and burgling, just one is willing to work). And our Shortly afterwards on a German neo-Nazi forum, 2 readers agree.“ 39 article in an Austrian newspaper about the politicians don't care, because big companies make further incidents of vandalism were announced. A murder of a Turkish woman in a German courtroom. sure they are well rewarded.” forum member, who lives in Styria, according to his „xelf writes on 9/4/2009 4:30 “If they don't like it they can go home. Real Ger- “Martin Luther King, I have a dream too... a foreig- profile, writes, “We want a horror show, not free will, In Austria there's no racism, just natural self-interest. mans don't want them in the country anyway.“ ner-free Austria!!! God save it!” and so this definitely won't be the last vandalism of That's just human, to resist encroachment on our lives. “We should think about paying a contribution It doesn't matter if this encroachment comes from the for people to relocate to their homeland, like France environment, nature itself or from other people. When does. Even 50,000 Euros per person would pay for its- “something” gets in the way, it has to go, it's as simple elf, because these people cost us millions.“ as that, so peace is restored. “So I'm suggesting a real solution, supporting the 21 readers agree.“ return of Muslims to their homeland.“ “Certainly a regrettable incident. But the way we ZARA passed the postings reported by Ms A to the deal with it is a scandal and also a mirror for our false operators of the site, so they could be removed. Short- and totally manipulated approach to Muslims. My God, ly afterwards ZARA received the reply that the racist how many uncountable (you can read it everyday in posts had been deleted. In general, postings were the media) murders, attacks etc. are carried out in the checked for compliance with site terms and condi- name of Allah! But this is just justice, when it's done to tions by employees after publication. Due to the high the non-Muslims and therefore non-believers.“ numbers of posts it is not possible to check posts 24 hours a day. For this reason there is a button on every article to report problem posts to ensure a speedier response by the forum operators. ZARA thanked them for their quick reply.

22 23 Public Space · Internet Public Space · Politics and the Media

What happened to... ? Politics and the Media Case 33 Racism Report 2007

In 2009 many witnesses again reported a chain e-mail ZARA sent an inquiry to the local education authori- There were reports in various media about in Austria, “Jewish exile – money – America, this is a to ZARA, which had been in circulation the previous ty in 2007 asking if such a recommendation existed. 40 the racist comments of the Carinthian clear chain of association that panders to current re- year. In the e-mail it was claimed that pupils in schools ZARA was informed that no such order had been gi- Governor Gerhard Dörfler in January. During a press sentments.“ in Linz were being taught that the traditional Austri- ven, and that the e-mail must be a fake. Unfortunately, conference for the ORF programme “Wenn die Musi ÖVP Regional Governor, Herbert Sausgruber, gave an greeting “Grüß Gott” [Grüß (dich) Gott = God bless it was not possible to persuade the education autho- spielt” the BZÖ politician told a racist joke in the pre- Egger's unwillingness to apologize as the reason for you, but means ‘good day’] discriminates against Mus- rity to release any statement about the e-mail, either sence of crooner Robert Blanco (see http://orf.at/ti- terminating cooperation with the FPÖ at the regional lim citizens, and to avoid insult, the greeting should in a press release or on their website, even though it is cker/314780.html). level from the time of the election. A prosecution for be avoided. The e-mail brands this “false tolerance” still in circulation. The Carinthian SPÖ made public a few days later suspicion of inciting racial hatred and attempting to and rails against it. that Dörfler had also told Blanco to “wash his face reintroduce National Socialism was dropped by the now and again,” and demanded a public apology for department of public prosecutions as the require- these discriminatory comments. The BZÖ denied the ments for such a prosecution had not been met. second incident in a press release; an apology for the The FPÖ was able to almost double their votes at racist joke was not forthcoming. Dörfler himself dis- the September 20th election from 12.9% in 2004 to missed the criticism as “artificially stirred up.” He had 25.1%. In December 2009 Egger returned to his “Je- told the joke “in a spirit of fun” and it was not intended wish exile” remark and said that it had been worth to be insulting. “Should we ban the children's book it, and that he had, “made people think more about ‘Ten Little N...[*]’ in Carinthia?” he asked the APA. Blan- integration.” co commented in a newspaper interview, calling it, “a ZARA documented events as part of irregular me- harmless joke, that I don't find discriminatory.” ZARA dia monitoring. documented the events using the media reports. In his column on 29/1/2009 in the newspaper­ In April, Mr B alerted ZARA to comments by 43 Österreich, editor Wolfgang Fellner commen- 41 BZÖ politician Martin Strutz about the ORF ted on the murder of a Chechen asylum seeker stating, daytime TV series “Tschuschen:power” [Wog:power]. among other things, that, “Chechen asylum seekers in In an article in Der Standard, Strutz was quoted as say- our country are becoming unbearable. They cause ing, “Because they don't work, they are at home in the mischief, import drugs, start wars, commit political afternoon and can watch TV.” Mr B asked ZARA if this assassinations, throw babies out of windows and are statement violated any law. ZARA informed Mr B that ultra-brutal. The Minister has to stop this abuse of asy- this was not an incitement to racial hatred from a legal lum regulations as a matter of urgency – this is where point of view. the problem lies.” A witness requested that ZARA document these At a preliminary meeting for the Vorarlberg comments, because a group of people were being cri- 42 parliamentary election in late August the minalised because of their nationality. FPÖ front runner Dieter Egger spoke to several party supporters in Hohenems. His speech warned of the The Afrikanet.info website reported on the coming “Muslim majority” in Vorarlberg which is in his 44 following media incident which took place at opinion, to occur in “40 or 50 years.” It was high time the Vienna City Marathon on 19/4/2009 after the race to nip this development in the bud so “our children” was won by a runner from Kenya. The ORF presenter wouldn't “feel like strangers in their own country.” Christopher Ryan commented, “The prize money is Imams who refused to recognise “democratic values” 15,000 Euros, and there is stage money on top of that. Zeig Zivilcourage! shouldn't just be “turfed out of school,” but also “out He can probably buy a few more bananas or other of the country.” exotic fruit when he gets back home.” Unter dem Titel „3x45 Sekunden Zivilcourage“ hat der erfolgreiche Filmemacher Egger countered Hanno Loewy's criticism of the The complaints about these comments led ORF “Child benefit for Austrian families” FPÖ poster with spokesperson Pius Strobl to make the following state- Jochen Graf drei kurze Werbespots für ZARA gedreht. the statement that the “exiled American Jew in his ment, “Christopher Ryan deplores any form of racism highly subversive museum” had nothing to do with and has already said in an internal statement that his Mehrfach dafür ausgezeichnet, ermutigen die Werbefilme dazu, in unangenehmen internal politics. Loewy is the German-born director clumsy attempt to make a connection between bana- of the Jewish Museum in Hohenems. This statement nas and prize money came over completely different- Situationen aktiv gegen Alltagsrassismus einzuschreiten – ganz ohne Zeigefingermoral! was denounced as an incitement to antisemitism by ly then he intended, which is why he tried to defuse other Vorarlberg parties, and later also by Chancellor the statement by saying other exotic fruit.” ZARA do- Werner Faymann and politicians from the other nati- cumented the incident as part of irregular media mo- Anzusehen unter: http://filmproduktion.org/zaraspots onal parties. nitoring. For Heribert Schiedel, from the ➞ Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance, Egger's statement is MR R reported a poem by Wolf Martin from evidence that antisemitism is once more on the rise 45 the Kronen Zeitung on 26/4/2009 which Mr R

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3x45Sekunden_INS_RZ.indd 1 01.03.2010 14:00:49 Uhr Public Space · Politics and the Media Public Space · Racist smearings

Racist smearings regarded as racist. Mr Martin writes about an “Eastern rests of the people,” wouldn't “be shut up by the Chur- rabble” that is a “plague on our city” and indicated un- ch Council.” The FPÖ had no intention of sweeping the derstanding for the supporters of FPÖ leader Heinz- “danger of a creeping Islamisation” under the carpet ZARA has been documenting racist smearings in pu- various forms of expression favoured by conventional Christian Strache, because he was the only politician and underestimating what could happen. blic spaces for years, and takes steps to ensure its re- smearing sprayers. Racist slogans on house walls and who would do anything about these “beggars, rob- The Islamic community also released a statement at moval. Our work in this field has revealed that public public spaces that often include incitements to mur- bers and thieves.” http://www.derislam.at, “The constant allegations that sensitivity to this issue has led to a sharp increase in der represent a threat to people’s right to a safe and Muslims are working on a kind of infiltration of Aust- reported smearings. In 2006, because of the Master peaceful coexistence. For ZARA damage to property In a press release from 12/10/2009 rian public life, or even a take over, in service of their Builder Ing. Alexander Baumann (http://www.be- is not the primary issue, rather it is the content of the (http://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/ religion, is very dangerous to the public and religious 46 schmierungsambulanz.at) initiative, and the “Strike message, which is illegal incitement to racial hatred OTS_20090915_OTS0130), FPÖ parliamentary repre- freedom of the country. These fantasies are complete Out Racism” campaign (http://www.rassismusstrei- and/or violates the law against the reintroduction of sentative Herbert Madejski commented on the plan- nonsense from the point of view of Islamic theology. chen.at), started in cooperation with ZARA and SOS- National Socialism. The negative symbolism of racist ned construction of a second route for the number The repeated use of the term “Islamisation” is inten- Mitmensch, 793 reports of racist, neo-Nazi and antise- smearings leaves no one untouched. Prejudices are 2 tram line for use in case of demonstrations on the ded to cause fear, which is then used as a justification mitic smearings were received in 2006 alone. confirmed and stereotypes are reinforced – not to re- Ring, which was being recommended, among others, for discrimination and persecution of Muslims. These move it would be legitimizing racism. by Vienna's Greens as follows, “The Greens are worried strategies of demonization and the stoking of anti-Is- The following two years the amount of smearings re- about their sandal-wearing professionally shocked lamic resentment, seem to be an attempt to disguise ported fell to 251 reports in 2007 and 64 in 2008. In Statistics demonstrators who are going to cause traffic chaos the fact that the latest slogan isn't just anti-Islamic, 2009, the number of reports to the advice centre had and expensive police overtime when, to the disgust but also anti-Semitic, as all non Christians are lumped Altogether in 2009, 179 examples of racist smearings grown again to 149, a small increase from the previ- of Caritas, Ute Bock, Zara & Co, the police hurt a hair together, stigmatised and excluded.” were reported to ZARA, including 30 that were docu- ous year, without any particular awareness-building on the head of a Nigerian drug dealer who's resisting The poster was reported by political scientist Tho- mented as part of the monitoring project. Forty-nine initiatives being undertaken. arrest.” ZARA documented the incident as part of irre- mas Schmidinger on suspicion of incitement to racial examples of racist smearings were seen on public gular media monitoring. hatred. The prosecution was later dropped by the pu- transport. Only 14 examples were reported outside In December, in order to gain more insight into how the blic prosecutions office as it did not fulfil the criteria Vienna. reported amount of racist smearings in Vienna is deter- On 13/5/2009 a demonstration took place in for this offence. mined, ZARA carried out smearing monitoring. Areas Vienna against the construction of an Islamic In a chat at http://derstandard.at/?url=/?id=124 ISL 6% 47 of Vienna that had already come to ZARA’s attention centre in Brigittenau. Approximately 1,400 people res- 1622591102 the FPÖ EU representative Andreas Möl- were chosen, and volunteers were assigned to these TUR 4% ponded to the call of the “Moschee Ade” initiative and zer answered a participant's question about whether areas to systematically document racist smearings. came together in front of parliament. In her address, the FPÖ would force atheists to adopt Christian beliefs RAC13% AFR 29% the speaker for this citizen's initiative warned against as follows: “This slogan wasn't intended to compel In just a few days, more than 30 examples of racist a “creeping Islamisation of Austria.” The demonstrati- agnostics or people of other beliefs to adopt Christi- smearings were found. It was noted that some ex- on was supported by the FPÖ, and the party leader anity, it was much more about conveying, within the amples had been visible for a period of time, as they Heinz-Christian Strache took part. In his speech he restricted space of a poster, that there is a kind of war had been painted over or commented on by commit- also railed against the building of the Mosque with a between the predominant 2000-year-old Christian ted anti-racists. The advice centre will (as with witness cross in his hand, which brought him media criticism culture of Europe and a militant immigrant Islam.“ reports) continue to ensure that racist smearings are HAS 48% for misuse of the religious symbol. ZARA documented ZARA was contacted by several witnesses and do- removed and looks forward to further collaboration events as part of irregular media monitoring. cumented these events using media reports. with the Vienna Citizens Service and Wiener Linien. During the EU elections in May the FPö Later in the EU election campaign the FPÖ Reports from conscientious people who notify 48 campaigned under the slogan “Abendland 49 placed newspaper adverts with their plans to AFR „Anti-African“ in Christenhand” [The West in Christian Hands] and veto Israel and Turkey's entrance into the European Uni- ZARA, or remove racist smearings from their SAS „Swastika and Anti-semitism“ “Time for a Reckoning.” The Ecumenical Council of on. SPÖ Chancellor Werner Faymann moved decisively houses remain crucial. More details at: RAS „Racism“ Churches criticised the “appropriation of Christi- against the campaign, calling the FPÖ leader Strache a http://www.beschmierungsambulanz.at. TUR „Anti-Turkish“ an belief for political posters” in a press release. The “preacher of hate.” He suspected that the only reason ISL „Anti-Islamic“ chairperson of the council, the Evangelical Lutheran Israel was mentioned in the advert was to pander to an- As in previous years, ZARA cannot avoid mentioning Theologian Herwig Sturm, explained in an interview tisemitism. Faymann denounced this as “incitement to that racist smearings can not be compared to the Total 179 100 % for Ö1, “I see the misuse of religion in this poster, and racial hatred.” The ÖVP Foreign Minister Michael Spinde- the opposite of what Christendom should be about. legger denounced the FPÖ's, “racially divisive political The feelings that this poster is intended to incite have slogans.” It emerged from the preparation of the report nothing to do with Christianity.” that quite a few newspapers had dared to print the FPÖ FPÖ General Secretary Herbert Kickl commented advertisements. ZARA documented the events as part on this criticism by stating that the FPÖ, “in the inte- of irregular media monitoring.

26 27 Police Police

Mr T, who was born in Gambia, works as a she would not allow this, but Mr K attempted to do it Police 50 cook at a Vienna hotel. On his way home he anyway. decided to sit on a park bench near his house to smo- After a few minutes, he had succeeded in changing 1http://www.soros.org/ Many of the cases reported to ZARA are tainted by the suspicion that the police have used ➞ ethnic profiling. ke a cigarette. As his wife is pregnant with their se- the money and returned to the police officer to pay initiatives/justice/focus/ cond child, he prefers not to smoke at home. A white his fine. The police officer told him that they weren't in equality_citizenship/articles_ This is the case when, as defined by the Open Society Justice Initiative (http://www.soros.org/initiatives/justice), the publications/publications/ car stopped nearby and two police officers got out. a “Turkish market or in Bolivia,” and that she would no profiling_20090511 decision about who is suspected of a crime is based on general criteria such as ethnic group, skin colour, religion, or nationality, rather than on the behaviour of the person. They went up to Mr T and asked if he was a drug dea- longer accept a cash payment. Mr K was told he would Investigation based on ethnic profiling was also our suspicion when Mr A described his experiences which can ler. They also asked to see his ID. When Mr T told them now receive a summons. Mr K's brother asked for the be read in case 57. When the weekly Falter made the case public the police vehemently denied this accusation, that he was only smoking a cigarette, the officers in- police officer's number and was told that for this “stu- while confirming in the same breath something that ZARA had suspected for some time, “It is necessary for risk dicated that they suspected it to be a joint, and that pid” request he would be prosecuted for riding wit- assessment that people who are not suspects are located and interviewed by officers based on their nationality,” he probably had marijuana on his person. When he hout lights. While the officer was taking Mr K's details Johann Golob, the spokesperson for the Vienna Police, explained. denied this and complained about such an accusati- he tried to speak further about the incident however Unfortunately this was not the last time this year that the issue of ethnic profiling would raise its ugly head on being made without any evidence the officers told he was told to shut his mouth. A few weeks later the – and we were forced to realise that the police are very unwilling to engage with this subject. In late November, him that he could go back to Africa if he didn't like court documents arrived for Mr K and his brother. the Ministry of the Interior presented their so-called “Burglary Master Plan.” This presented various perpetrators, being questioned. ZARA offered to put Mr T in con- ZARA supported Mr K and his brother in protesting grouped according to ethnic background, making it possible for example to look up the “Specialities of Georgian tact with the human rights coordinator for the Vienna the amount of the fine, as both have a very limited in- ➞ Perpetrators.” It is actually explicitly stated in the master plan that the descriptions of Georgian, Moldovan and Police, but Mr T just wanted to know that the incident come, and also submitted a guidelines complaint Chilean perpetrator groups should “in no way give the impression that the police discriminate against groups from would be documented. against the officer for Mr K. This was conducted to the certain backgrounds without grounds.“ However, the events referred to above, as well as the police refusal of using satisfaction of Mr K at a non-binding interview with ethnic profiling leave us very sceptical. Ms P is an Austrian citizen, her husband was the officer in question. To reply to the classic argument that there is obviously little point in interviewing a Mostviertler when the crime 51 born in Africa. In early 2009 several police took place in Carinthia. This is true, but it is also problematic to interview someone purely because they come from officers came to their home with orders to search it. Mr N is an Austrian citizen whose parents a certain group, and not because of concrete suspicions. This is racist. The officers searched the entire flat, destroying vari- 53 were born in Turkey. He has been living in a In a study from the previous year, the Open Society Justice Initiative warns, “investigations based on ethnic pro- ous items of furniture in the process. Ms P saw one of small town in Austria for around 30 years. For a long filing stigmatise whole groups of people according to their race or ethnic background under the assumption that the officers purposely stamp on their wedding photo. time Mr N has been having problems with Mr F, a local these groups are supposedly more likely to commit a crime, and in this way convey the impression to the society Although the police didn't find anything, Mr P was ta- policeman from the town, because he keeps giving at large that all members of this group represent a threat.“1 ken into custody on suspicion of people smuggling. him tickets that are not justified. When Mr N was coll- The leader of the investigation told Ms P that her “N... ecting a parcel from the post office one day he parked Another important lesson that can be drawn from the Open Society Institute study is that police work is actually [*] babies” didn't have any future anyway and that she in a disabled space because it was the only one availa- more effective when officers engage with this concept, and question the stereotypes they carry during their inves- would have to raise the kids herself for the next few ble and he was in a hurry. Soon after entering the post tigations – stereotypes which are unfortunately often based on prejudice. This prejudice can be worsened by the years because Mr P was sure to end up in prison. Mr P office a police car pulled up and he got a ticket. presentation of perpetrator groups based on ethnic background, such as in the “Burglary Master Plan.” The Open was taken into custody the same day. When Mr N came out of the post office a few minu- Society Institute warns that ethnic profiling leads to the alienation of people whose cooperation you might need In relation to the officer's comments ZARA offered tes later he apologised for using the disabled space, in investigations. to pass the case on to the human rights coordinator but Mr F still insulted him, calling him a “bloody Turk” Only recently, Interior Minister Maria Fekter has presented an initiative titled “Police. Power. People. Rights,” for the Vienna police. However, after Mr P was released who should “bugger off home.” Mr N wanted to apolo- which is intended to strengthen the conviction within the police force that it is an organisation that protects hu- from custody, he decided not to make an official com- gise again but Mr F turned away and drove off in his man rights. The first sentences of this initiative describe policing as a profession which champions human rights, plaint to the authorities. He felt there was little need police car. A few weeks later Mr N received the penalty and contains a raft of principles which are most welcome. The subject of ethnic profiling is however conspicuous for it and simply wanted the case documented, and notification. by its absence. to concentrate on his defence in the ongoing legal ZARA advised Mr N to pay the fine for the illegal ➞ The project's work provides a series of approaches to changing police force culture, by giving human rights a proceedings. parking, and assisted Mr N in preparing a guide­ central role. It includes the regular, critical examination of police goals in order to ensure public order and security lines complaint against the officer, to the independent that serves the needs of the whole community. The concentration on “a police force that is a human rights based Mr K, a Bolivian citizen and exchange student adjudication panel for racist insults. At the time of wri- organisation” is however only credible if the police engage with the issue of ethnic profiling at the structural, orga- 52 in Austria was riding his bike in Vienna this ting there had been no decision on the complaint. nisational and individual level. August. He was on his way to meet his brother, who is also a Bolivian citizen, in the early evening at the Mr J was born in Afghanistan. In late August Votivkirche, a church in the city centre. Mr K saw his 54 he was travelling with a friend on the metro in brother with his bike at the meeting place and hurried Vienna. On leaving the station the two were detained to join him, crossing an amber light in the process. by five plain-clothes policemen and asked for their ID. He was stopped by police when he got to the other When they asked why they were being checked, the side of the crossing. An officer accused Mr K of cros- two received no answer. One officer wanted to know sing at red. Mr K protested that he had been riding if they were “armed.” Mr J answered in the negative. Mr quickly and had crossed at amber. The policewoman J had the impression that they were being treated as would not listen and informed Mr K that he would terrorist suspects. When Mr J produced his electronic have to pay a fine of 35 Euros. health insurance card [a form of ID] the officers told Mr K could see no alternative but to pay the 35 Euro them that they could go. fine, unfortunately he only had 31 Euros and a 5 dollar As Mr J was not informed of the reason they were bill. Because he wanted to pay the fine straight away stopped and also because the were constantly refer- he asked the officer if he could go to a nearby bar and red to as “Du” [the equivalent of a US policeman calling change the 5 dollars. The policewoman indicated that a black man ‘boy’] Mr J asked the policemen for their

28 29 Police Police

badge numbers. Instead of providing the informati- calling for a swift resolution of the case. The Green contacted in order to offer an apology, but only his In early May, Mr G left a supermarket in on two policemen accompanied him home to check speaker on human rights and member of the national partner could be reached. 56 Vienna's 11th district. He observed three his passport. When the officers had completed their assembly Alev Korun had this to say about the case, “It It is impossible to prevent all cases of confusion men approaching a black newspaper seller and stop- check they threw the passport on the ground with the cannot be allowed that people are suspected by the relating to people of similar build, clothing, etc. If the ped to watch. One of the men saw this and asked Mr G words, “You’re just another stupid asylum seeker here police of drug dealing based solely on the colour of person involved cooperates with the police however, what he wanted. It transpired that the three men were boy, worthless.” and left the flat. their skin. To assault a suspect without any evidence the case can then be quickly resolved.“ plain-clothes police officers who wanted to check the Mr J submitted a complaint to the Vienna Police on of illegal activity, and then only later to inform them of newspaper salesman's ID. Mr G was accused of distur- the same day. He also requested that ZARA document what they are suspected of, are Rambo methods that In the following days, after interviewing the two of- bing the police in carrying out their duties. He was the incident. At the time of writing Mr J had not con- can have no place with Austria's police.“ ficers, the police added further detail about the inci- required to come to a police car that was parked in tacted us with the outcome of his complaint. In an article in daily newspaper, Der Standard on dent. They officers said they had shouted “Stop, po- the vicinity to give his details. Mr G indicated that it February 16th 2009, the national police comman- lice!” at Mr B. When Mr B did not react they “pushed was his opinion that the public had a right to watch Mike B. is an African American and works der Karl Mahrer was quoted on the case as follows, “I him against the wall” which resulted in him “losing his the police in carrying out their duty from a distance. 55 for two international schools in Vienna as a would not like to talk to the victim or apologise un- balance and falling to the floor.” Because the officers The officer who took his details indicated that this was sport and English teacher. On Wednesday February til the investigators have reached a conclusion. This claimed to have identified themselves, it was argued not the case. 11th 2009, he was travelling in the early evening on should, however, happen in the next few days. An that Mr B’s reaction, or lack thereof, was an attempt to By this time the newspaper salesman had also the metro. As he alighted at Spittelau station he was immediate reaction to an ongoing investigation is of escape. The officers felt it was a refusal to cooperate been brought to the police car. While the police che- pulled to the ground by a man without any warning course not normal police procedure.” rather than what Mr B should have done, which was cked the two men's details Mr G offered the newspa- and struck by the man with his fists. A second man Mr B's lawyer submitted a ➞ guidelines complaint try to help clear up the case of mistaken identity. per salesman a cigarette. There was then an agitated came up and helped to hold Mr B down. against the officers with the➞ Independent Adminis- The two police officers were not suspended be- “exchange” between the officers in which resentments Mr B's girlfriend, who had been waiting on the plat- trative Tribunal and re-filed charges for bodily harm cause the authorities decided that although unfor- against non-Austrians were expressed. form, ran to help. She asked what was going on and and misuse of authority. He also contacted the public tunate, the case of mistaken identity had been cor- Mr G heard the officers discuss how, “blacks selling demanded that they stop hitting Mr B and allow him prosecutions department directly in order to evaluate rectly handled considering Mr B´s actions. “Clause 112 stuff are usually selling other stuff,” and how, “Roma- to get up. One of the men pushed her away. Because any available station CCTV footage. It later transpired of public sector employment law was not infringed in nians try to sell things, and when you don't buy them she suspected that the two men were plain-clothes that there was no CCTV footage available. the view of the authorities and service.” Mr B's injuries they start begging.” The newspaper seller was infor- policemen she asked to see their identification. One In a press release Amnesty International added were not disputed, but according to the police, were med that he was not allowed to offer goods for sale of the men confirmed that they were plain-clothes their criticism of the police behaviour. General sec- “the sort of injuries that are often the result of a fall” in front of the supermarket. He was also told to, “learn policemen but did not provide identification. The retary Heinz Patzelt reiterated that the police should, and provided no evidence of intentional, disproporti- German,” and was finally sent on his way. two officers were very agitated and dealt aggressi- “as soon as possible make known that they are police onal use of force in carrying out police duties. Mr G was informed that charges would be filed vely with both Mr B and his girlfriend. While they were officers and that their actions are not an attack by ci- In view of the account of the incident given by Mr B against him for two administrative offences because searching Mr B's rucksack and taking his details, his vilians or a gang of skinheads.” The pivotal question is, and his girlfriend, ZARA considers the police's positi- he had disturbed the police in the carrying out of their girlfriend called the emergency number and asked when did the officers make it known that they were on that Mr B is responsible for the way the police of- duty. He contacted ZARA and requested that the case for the police, so that she could report the attack. The police. It is also difficult for Patzelt to understand why ficers carried out their duty and therefore the injuries be documented. ZARA advised him to seek legal ad- plain-clothes police noticed this and at last produced nobody from the police has offered an apology. caused, highly unlikely . The approach of their supe- vice and lodge a complaint against the officers. Mr G their identification. Also on February 16th, the Vienna Police published riors shows that in future there is a greater need for has not however contacted ZARA again. At this point it seems to have dawned on the of- the following press release on the interior ministry action when dealing with accusations of misconduct. ficers that Mr B was not the person they were looking website: ZARA therefore underlines the need for an inquiry Mr A is from Georgia and lives in Vienna. On for. They informed Mr B that there had been a mix up. "A suspect was detained at Spittelau metro stati- that is independent from the police or the interior 57 one evening in July, three officers of the cri- Because of the amount of pain he was in Mr B was on on February 11th 2009, on suspicion of dealing ministry, and that is able to swiftly investigate accusa- minal investigations police knocked at his door and slumped into a sitting position on the ground. The narcotics. Force was used by the officers involved. tions of misconduct. informed him that they were checking the IDs of, “all officers told Mr B's girlfriend that they had mistaken The man involved received injuries. It rapidly became the Georgians and Moldovans,” so he would have to Mr B for a suspected drug dealer who was black. After clear that this was a case of mistaken identity, as the In March, the media reported criticism of Mr B by his produce his ID. Mr A was surprised and annoyed. He Mr B's girlfriend had taken the names of the two po- description of the person involved was almost identi- hospital roommate, who is reported to have said that wanted to know why the officers were carrying out licemen and of a witness, Mr B was taken by the am- cal to that of the suspect. The injured party then recei- during his hospital stay he was, “hopping about as if this check. One police officer informed him that it was bulance his girlfriend had called to the Lorenz-Böhler ved hospital treatment as an outpatient. nothing was the matter,” and had only grabbed his being done for, “everyone's security.” The officers also Hospital. The actual suspect, who had been in the same wa- crutches for the journalists. As the injuries were dia- entered Mr A's home to look for “guests.” When the At the hospital it was found that Mr B had suffered gon and alighted at the station, initially attempted to gnosed as fractured vertebrae are well documented officers could not find anything suspicious they left. severe contusions of the spine, swollen disks, strain flee but was eventually detained and arrested. and more serious than initially suspected, Mr B's lawy- Mr A contacted ZARA because he did not understand trauma to the neck and wrist, as well as swelling in When the case of mistaken identity and the inju- er considers this report to be “mud slinging.” why his ID was checked exclusively because of his eth- several places. When he was released he filed char- ries sustained became known, the ➞ Office for Special In November, the media reported that the Korneu- nicity. ges against the police. On the following Saturday, he Investigations was assigned to the investigation. This burg regional public prosecutor who was handling ZARA passed the incident on to the Vienna Police had to go to hospital again as he was hardly able to office submitted a report to the department of public the dispute had already dropped the case against human rights coordinator and asked him to deliver a move, even on crutches, due to the amount of pain he prosecutions in Vienna on the 12th of February, and the two police officers. However, Mr B's lawyer later complaint to the regional police command, as well as was in. Both Mr B and his girlfriend contacted ZARA the human rights advisor was informed. At this time approached the public prosecutor with new informa- inquire what legal basis there was for checking ID in requesting assistance and that the incident be docu- there are still witness statements outstanding. Any tion, and so the case had to be reopened. A new medi- this way. mented. ZARA informed the couple of their legal op- disciplinary measures will be decided on after the in- cal report on the injuries was requested by Christmas, At the same time Mr A became aware that among tions. A short time later Mr B engaged a lawyer. vestigation is concluded. as doubt was cast on the first medical report on Mr his friends other Georgians had been subjected to the The incident has been reported at length in the The Vienna Police Force regret the case of mistaken B's injuries. same checks. Based on their reports it seems that even media, including in the New York Times. Politicians identity that occurred. Immediately after completion At the time of writing there have been no new de- some of the officers carrying out the checks are less of the SPÖ and the Greens have released statements of the legal proceedings, the person involved was velopments in Mr B's case. than convinced that it is a sensible course of action,

30 31 Police Other public authorities and public institutions

because they apologised or called the checks, “stupid.” used by the police had definitely not been satisfied. ZARA contacted the weekly Falter which had ZARA emphasised that the police made suspects of Other public authorities published an article about this issue in September certain parts of the population en mass with this eth- 2009. It was known that the ID checks were being car- nic profiling and that it was unambiguously racist. ried out and had been initiated by written order. The The human rights advisor announced an investiga- and public institutions checks are intended as a measure to combat burgla- tion, as this police method was questionable. The Vi- ries carried out by Georgian, Moldovan and Chechen enna Greens have filed charges with the department gangs, but are also intended to aid police control of of public prosecutions against the senior officer of the Georgians and Moldovans. The people chosen for the Vienna Police responsible. At the time of writing it is Giving advice in dealing with authorities and other institutions is especially difficult. In most cases seen by ZARA's checks are not chosen based on any concrete suspici- not known what conclusion the department of public legal advisers, a client has not received certain services and often has the feeling that this is based on their ethnic ons, but exclusively based on their citizenship and/or prosecutions has reached and whether an investigati- background. However, it is often difficult to determine if there is in reality a racist motive behind to the decision, or ethnic background. on will be started. if there is some other reason for the unfriendly treatment if racist comments are not made directly. After the article appeared in the Falter, the Vien- In late September ZARA received a written state- ZARA's first goal in such cases is that the client receives the service that they are entitled to, and directs the na Greens and ZARA criticised the checks severely as ment from the federal police director for Vienna, client to other institutions who can assist them. Unfortunately we are rarely re-contacted to investigate any su- ➞ ethnic profiling. Regional police commander Karl which reiterated the legality of the checks ordered on spected racism further. For this reason. many cases reported to the advice centre have not been included in the Mahrer defended the methods to the media. He exp- Georgians and Moldovans. The statement also menti- following section. lained that it was merely questioning in order to elicit oned that suspects of these nationalities often sought A large blind spot for ZARA is racism in the school system, of which there are three examples in the following information about “what's happening on the street.” contact with, or support from, fellow ex-patriots who chapter. ZARA assumes that there are a great number of similar cases, but that they are seldom reported to the This method of “initiating contact, conversation and were unaware of the suspects criminal activities. advice centre. There is a strenuous effort at engagement with the issue of prevention, across Vienna, as evidenced assessing risk“ was also, “legally legitimate.” The federal director of the Vienna police went on by the numerous requests for training courses for teachers. It would also be desirable if schools considered a struc- ZARA indicated in a press release that these “ques- to say that he regretted if the questioning of innocent ture that would enable and/or ease the handling of cases where students discriminate against each other, or are tionings” were not seen as simple attempts to gain in- Moldovans and Georgians had given the impression discriminated against by staff. formation by those affected and some officers carried that this ethnic group was under general suspicion them out as ID checks and house searches, which re- of criminal activity. Clearly the complaint lodged by quire a legal basis. In the cases that had come to light ZARA and the reports the media had succeeded in rai- the legal requirements for such security measures sing the awareness of the police officers involved. Ms X contacted ZARA about the following skin colour, in an attempt to mitigate this prejudice. 58 case. She is an employee at an organisation Ms T feared that even though it would be super- that offers accommodation to asylum seekers and vised by the teacher, there was the chance that further contacted the emergency services one June night traumatising remarks might be made and declined because a client was suffering shortness of breath the suggestion. In September Ms T contacted ZARA and chest pains. After detailing her location and the for advice. ZARA suggested that Ms T offer awareness Republikanischer Club – Neues Österreich patient's symptoms Ms X was told, “Well, don't you training to the school, provided by the ZARA team of Rockhgasse 1 worry. These asylum seekers are usually just preten- trainers. At the time of writing Ms T has not gotten 1010 Wien ding, it's probably not as bad as it looks.“ When the back in touch. www.repclub.at ambulance arrived the asylum seeker was dealt with professionally. In March, Mr Y accompanied an asylum see- Der Republikanische Club – Neues Österreich existiert Der Republikanische Club – Neues Österreich organi­ Ms X was shocked by the emergency services 60 ker as he went to give a statement before a seit über 20 Jahren. Das drängende Bewusstsein, mit siert regelmäßig Diskussionsveranstaltungen in den employee's comments and wondered if an ambu- Vienna court. The charge was related to drugs, and der Vergangenheit aufrichtig und gewissenhaft umzu­ eigenen Räumlichkeiten in der Rockhgasse 1, 1010, lance would also have taken 20 minutes if a person one of the judges made the comment, “Typical, there gehen, machte die Gründung des RC notwendig. Im Eingang Cafe Hebenstreit. Das Programm steht auf with an Austrian ethnic background was suffering the aren’t any Africans that haven't been convicted of this.” Zuge der Auseinandersetzung um Waldheims Vergan­ der Homepage: www.repclub.at . Falls Sie/Du regel­ same symptoms. When asked if ZARA should lodge a When Mr Y remarked that this was an improper ge- genheit entstanden, beschäftigt sich der RC seither mit mäßige Programmzusendungen erhalten wollen, bitte complaint Ms X did not reply. neralisation, one of the other judges said, “I've never den gesellschaftlichen Phänomenen: Antisemitismus, ein Email an [email protected] senden. seen an Indian selling drugs.” The first judge agreed, Rassismus und Fremdenfeindlichkeit aber auch mit Ms T has an adopted daughter whose bio- saying, “Yeah, they sell the Kronen Zeitung [a popular der kritischen Auseinandersetzung mit sozialen Ver­ 59 logical parents were of African descent. Her newspaper, often sold by street traders].” hältnissen. daughter was the subject of racist taunts as soon as These informal comments which were made off- she started kindergarten, a situation that was trivia- the-record were indicative of a shared prejudice in10_00_014_Zara_korr:Layout 1 04.02.10 11:44 Seite 1 lised by the kindergarten employees. Ms T had hoped against African asylum seekers among the judges. Mr that this stress would disappear when her daughter Y expressed his suspicion that the impartiality of the

ServiceTel: (kostenlos) left the kindergarten. process was therefore compromised, and requested 0800/20 11 30 However, since her daughter started at primary that ZARA document the incident. He also lodged a [email protected] school, the situation has gotten worse. She is insulted complaint with the court manager. At the time of wri- www.oebv.com by her classmates, she is called an “African pig“, her ting there has been no reaction to this complaint. skin colour is described as “brown poo” and she is told Die ÖBV – gelebte Solidargemeinschaft that she stinks. Unfortunately, the teacher seems to be In late March Mr Z reported the following in- helpless in the face of these racist comments. She sug- 61 cident to ZARA. A woman of Turkish descent Als Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit verwirklicht die Österreichische Beamten- gested to Ms T that her daughter stand in front of the that he knew, who wears a headscarf, was walking past versicherung eine Idee: die Idee der Solidargemeinschaft. Bei uns ist jede und jeder willkommen. class to answer questions about her background and a school in the middle of the day. Youths, who were

32 33 Other public authorities and public institutions Work

leaving the school grounds according to another wit- Der Standard reported on the case in an article in ness, pulled the head scarf off from behind and emp- early October (http://derstandard.at/1254310822164/ Work tied a bottle of liquid over her head. The pupils then Auslaender-bei-Uni-Gebuehren-diskriminiert). In the ran. The victim and the witness contacted the police. article the Greens expressed the fear that many stu- As usual, in 2009 the ZARA advice centre was contacted once more about discrimination in job advertisements, The police noted the statements of the two women dents who were actually exempted from tuition fees which were most often brought to us by witnesses. In such cases we can only contact the media that publish the and accompanied them to visit the school principal. would pay them because they were not aware of the advert to inform them of the illegality of the advert. Concrete legal steps can only be taken when a job seeker con- The principal was disinterested saying, “We've got 490 regulations exempting them. tacts us and reports that they were excluded by an advert. This means that the person would have had to apply for pupils here – how are we supposed to know who it Mr S requested that ZARA include this example of the job, despite the discriminatory requirements and be refused. was?” The officers let things end there. Mr Z wanted systematic discrimination in the racism report. The fight for non-discriminatory adverts therefore is dependent on the person who is being discriminated ZARA to document the incident. against. This becomes clear in cases of ZARA clients who are discriminated against because of their religion. Mr W is of Egyptian descent. In July he contac- Through the years a picture has emerged from the cases reported to ZARA. Customers do not want to be served by In December Mr S brought systematic discri- 63 ted ZARA by phone because he felt discrimi- a woman in a headscarf, a worker fired because of fasting during Ramadan, and football reporters who get carried 62 mination against non-Austrian students to nated against by an expert during a court case against away with analysing the fitness of Muslim players during Ramadan. ZARA's attention. A medical student, Ms O, is a Croa- his ex-wife over the custody of their children. During But it is not just the cases reported to ZARA that give pause for thought. As part of a ZARA:TALK on the subject tian citizen and has lived in Vienna for 21 years. Her questioning by the expert he was asked, among other of youth and the job market a representative of the AMS-Jugendliche [Youth Employment Service] confirmed that legal situation is that she is a “long-term resident from questions, if his family, “regard women as second class companies who advertise jobs with them often give “subtle indications” that they don't want “young people with another country” and so she has the same access to citizens.” Mr W is certain that this question would not an immigrant background.” the Austrian job market as an Austrian citizen. People be asked of a man of Austrian descent. Teachers and apprenticeship organisers report on companies who refuse to take Turks and advise against young with this equal status (this includes for example, family He now wanted to lodge a complaint about the ex- people applying there. Reports of job seekers who change their name to improve their chances in the application members of EU citizens and Turkish people in employ- pert and his racist prejudice against men of Egyptian process are also worrying. And so are the reports of employers who force employees to change their name to a ment after 4 years of residence and their children) are descent. Shortly before his personal consultation Mr more “Austrian sounding” one to “reassure” customers. not legally required to pay tuition fees. However at the W contacted ZARA again. He requested that the inci- All these individual decisions cement discriminatory practices and structures. It is also a reflection of the ne- start of the winter semester Ms O received a payment dent only be documented and did not want to lodge a gative effects of the one-sided discourse about immigrants and their integration on the concrete experiences of slip and a request for payment of her tuition fees. complaint any more. He was afraid that it would nega- individuals. As long as “foreign” people (many of the people affected are in fact Austrian citizens) are presented She contacted Mr S who was her friend and worked tively impact the trial. He would contact ZARA as soon as problems, they will also be seen as such, with the effect that they have a much more difficult task in finding as an assistant at the Institute for Constitutional and as the trial was over. At the time of writing there were employment on the job market. Administrative Law. After enquiring at the science mi- no new developments in the case. A raft of measures will be required to ensure equal opportunities in the job market to everyone living in Austria nistry, Mr S was informed that Vienna University did – and allow Austrian firms to benefit from the wasted potential provided by people of different backgrounds: not automatically recognise the exemptions. Mr S re- In September ZARA was contacted anony- searched the situation at various other Austrian uni- 64 mously by a student who claimed to have • Support for the teachers and apprenticeship organisers in their contact with businesses – eg via providing versities and discovered that the universities in Linz been assaulted because of his Austrian descent. information about the applicable laws that strengthen their position relative to businesses. and Innsbruck, in particular, did not automatically There were five attackers. Because the caller did not • The empowerment of young people. ZARA has developed aids to this end with the Know Your Rights brochure check for exemptions either. Other universities at least provide any contact details, ZARA could not provide (http://www.zara.or.at/kyr) and the “Peer education: Mut zur Vielfalt!” [Dare to Diversity!] project (http://www.zara. asked students starting courses about their status or any further support apart from documenting the in- or.at/peereducation). sent out info e-mails. Ms O eventually received a re- cident. • Advise businesses with the goal of ending their discriminatory practices and in the mid-term bring about change in payment of her tuition fees after an informal claim. the organisations’ culture and structure.

Ms D is Muslim of Turkish descent and wears a take her case to the ➞ Equal Treatment Commission 65 headscarf. She is studying to be a pharmacist as these discriminatory practices affect many Muslim and will shortly complete her studies. She is currently people. At the time of writing the case is still ongoing. seeking a position at a pharmacy, but from 70 applica- tions that she has sent out since January she has recei- Mr O teaches at a school in Vorarlberg. In ved 65 rejections. In the case of half of these rejections 66 May, as every year, his students search for an she was informed on further inquiry that her headscarf apprenticeship. He noticed that once again students had contributed to the decision. from immigrant backgrounds, especially students When she applied by e-mail to a pharmacy in Fe- with a Turkish background, had great difficulty in bruary she was told that they were interested howe- finding an apprenticeship, even when they had very ver would she be willing to remove the headscarf at good grades. work? They had a similar understanding with a Turkish Of course the written rejections sent by the firms employee who was already working there. When Ms D contained no reasons that were connected to the ap- made clear that this was something that she was not plicants’ background. It is however, clear to him that a comfortable doing the pharmacy broke off contact name that indicates their background is often the de- with her. cisive factor in receiving rejection. For this reason two Ms D felt that she had been discriminated against former students had already changed their names. Mr on grounds of her religion and contacted ZARA. After O asked ZARA for information about the law for him having the legal options explained, Ms D decided to and his colleagues, and to document the situation.

34 35 Work Goods and Services · Housing

In July Ms O was studying to be a hairdresser In September, a member of an Austrian uni- 67 as part of her further education at a Vienna 69 on contacted ZARA and informed us of the Goods and Services college of vocational education. She contacted ZARA following case. Mr K is a Muslim and is employed by because classmates who themselves or their parents a well-known Vienna family business. When he began Unfortunately, this year has been another in which discriminatory housing ads were again reported to ZARA, alt- were not born in Austria were treated worse by the fasting during the month of Ramadan, his employ- hough most platforms and media have started to react relatively swiftly in removing them when brought to their teachers than ethnic Austrian participants on the er demanded that he desist and eat normally. The attention. Our clients are not just disadvantaged because of discriminatory adverts or at the handover of the keys. course. Ethnic Austrians were, for example, given in- employer justified this by stating that fasting led to Even when a place to live has been found, there is often racist hostility from neighbours. formation about training seminars or the opportunity Muslim employees being unable to work as hard as This has a strong impact on the quality of life of immigrants and people who are perceived as coming from to observe final examinations. normal. minorities. It is the constant, everyday and literal “next-door-ness” of the racism that makes it so gruelling. Another Ms O also reported that two black colleagues were Mr K did not share this opinion and wanted to ob- problem is that the ZARA advice centre has great difficulty providing help with these issues because legal measu- not allowed to take their final exam in the previous serve the teachings of his religion, which led to the res are of limited use in solving these problems between people, and the instruments available lead to a solution four months, although according to Ms O, they had employment being terminated by mutual consent. in only the most exceptional cases. surpassed the required skill level. Ms O along with a Mr K went to the Chamber of Labour, who advised The discrimination reported to ZARA in the housing sector excludes a part of the population from the housing fellow student, asked her teacher to treat everyone against taking legal action due to the mutual termi- market, limiting their freedom and choice massively and impinging on their human dignity. It must also be a con- the same. She told us that the atmosphere on the nation of the employment and the lack of witnesses. cern that immigrants or people who are visibly from a minority also live in worse conditions than “real Austrians.” course had improved after that. ZARA documented the case. They live in worse-furnished and smaller flats – and on top of this expend a considerably higher proportion of their Ms O did not want the manager of the institution budget on housing. The type and quality of housing available also has an impact on opportunities at school and to be contacted however, because she feared that it Mr Z is a taxi driver in Innsbruck. In late Octo- the employment market. would have negative consequences for her, and she 70 ber he was insulted by Turkish youths, “We're Another constant source of work for the advice centre is refusal of access to bars and restaurants. ‘Neutral’ wanted to obtain her qualifications. not getting in a cab driven by a bloody Austrian.” Mr explanations like “private function”, “reserved”, and “no public admittance” are used when denying admittance to Z reported the incident to ZARA for documentation. ZARA's customers – but they are in actuality camouflage for the racist door policy operated by many bars. Many bar ZARA gave Ms O a brochure with legal information ZARA explained his legal options for reacting to such operators do not seem to be aware that this practice is against the law. And unfortunately the methods employed to pass on to her classmates who were discriminated verbal racial assaults. It was explained that if he was by ZARA to bring change are not always effective. In contrast to disputes between neighbours, ZARA believes legal against, so that they could be informed of their rights employed, rather than self-employed, he was covered action in such cases can be successful, in that it can have a deterrent effect. Unfortunately few clients are prepared ➞ and decide if they wanted ZARA's support. At the time by equality legislation against such harassment. to go to court, perhaps because they would be left with legal costs if the case was unsuccessful. of writing there has been no contact from the two wo- There was no further action from Mr Z . men. In late October Mr T discovered two signs at Mr Q wanted information from ZARA about 71 a bar in Vienna's 3rd district which said, “Kit- 68 whether it is punishable when you are called chen help sought, knowledge of Viennese cuisine, Housing a “bloody Austrian,” and if so whether ZARA would must be a German-speaking Austrian.” Mr T entered support him. He was prompted in asking the question the establishment and talked with the management ZARA was informed in April of the following The property manager went on to say that they had because in his job he interacts with people from many about the discriminatory nature of the job ads. The 72 advertisement on an internet platform. “Re- been contacted by several building tenants to report different backgrounds. Many of these customers react manager replied that the positions had already been placement tenant sought: 80m2 Stylish building, par- that “N...[*]” were living there now and dealing drugs. aggressively when he insists that they follow the rules filled, and that he purposely looked for Austrians be- quet, folding doors, mezzanine, 2 large sunny rooms, In reaction Mr B called the property manager and in- and is confronted with racist insults and imputations. cause if he didn't he “got a lot of riffraff coming in.” spacious. Hallway, walk-in closet, WC separate, bath, formed them that the main signatory had moved out. When Mr T was passing the bar again a few days kitchen, cellar. Gas heating, Austrians only, no dogs.” He told them of his desire to take over the contract. ZARA informed Mr Q that the term “bloody Austrian” later the signs were still there. Mr T photographed the ZARA contacted the operator of the site who im- The property management indicated that this would represented a racist insult and he could therefore ex- signs and sent this documentation to ZARA. As ZARA mediately took the ad down and promised in future be possible if in future black people were not seen co- pect support from ZARA. His legal options for such can only initiate legal action if there is a person who to check ads that were created by users online more ming and going as often. insults were explained to him however Mr Q did not has been discriminated against, the incident could closely for discriminatory content. ZARA also contac- ZARA explained Mr B's legal options under equali- contact ZARA again. only be documented. ted the person who placed the ad, who apologised ty law. Mr B wanted only that the case be documented and claimed that the owner of the building described for the time being while he waited for further deve- in the ad was not xenophobic and had already given lopments. flats in the same building to people with an immigrant background. They said that one of the people interes- In May Ms A was given a letter from her land- ted was not a native Austrian and would probably get 74 lady. It was about a complaint received from the flat. the other tenants of the building. They claimed that foreigners were coming and going at Ms A's flat and In April, Mr B told ZARA that he had been that they therefore suspected that drugs were being 73 living for some time in a flat share of three dealt there. They also claimed to be disturbed by the people. When his two flatmates moved out (one was considerable noise supposedly coming from her flat. the main signatory), he quickly found replacement te- Ms A was shocked by these accusations. The person nants for the free rooms. One of the tenants often had they were referring to was a friend with a mixed African black visitors. and Italian background, who is a professional sports- Some time later, the former main signatory recei- man. She had told him he could use her flat while she ved a letter from the property manager giving her five was overseas. After contacting ZARA a second time Ms days to state whether she was still resident at the pro- A wrote a letter to the property manager refuting the perty, otherwise they were considering evicting her. claim that drugs were being dealt and explained that

36 37 Goods and Services · Housing Goods and Services · Housing

assuming drug dealing is going on based on skin co- that “they always broke everything” and “more N... [*] that Mr P's two year old son makes too much noise. there was any truth to the allegation. Because the po- lour is racist. Despite inquiries ZARA failed to ascertain than agreed upon always lived in the flats they rented.” Every time she meets Mr P in the corridor she men- lice officers could not see any indication of injury on the property manager's reaction to this letter. Also, “they never pay their rent.” Ms A was shocked. She tions this and demands that Mr P take steps to redu- Ms P's person they carried on their way without any attempted to make clear to the landlady that it was ce the noise made by his son. When Mr P replies that charges being filed. The following advert on a lettings platform always possible to have good or bad experiences, but his son must be allowed to move, and that he is not The following day Mr J went to the building ma- 75 was reported to ZARA in May: “Very beauti- that a person's character could not be deduced from prepared to chain him down, the caretaker calls him a nagement to report the incident and complain about ful flat […] in the 17th district, available from July […] their nationality. The landlady was unwilling to change “bloody foreigner.” the caretaker. When he arrived he saw that Ms P had Landlord will only accept Austrians!“ her opinion however. Because Mr P was not willing to endure the con- got there first and was in the middle of giving her ver- After ZARA intervened the operator of the platform When Ms A remarked that there were already stant complaints and insults, he had already asked sion of events. Mr J was told brusquely by an emplo- deleted the discriminatory housing ad. many people living in the building with backgrounds the building manager for a different flat, which he is yee of the building management to take a seat out- from the former Yugoslavia, she was told that this was to get within a year. Mr P asked that ZARA document side and wait until Ms P was finished. Ms R was born and grew up in Vorarlberg. Her a transfer from another building and, “unfortunately the incident. When the meeting with Ms P was concluded the 76 parents are of Turkish descent, and she is Mus- couldn't be avoided.” Ms A contacted ZARA for legal building management employee informed Mr J that lim and wears a headscarf. She moved to Vienna to stu- advice. Because the landlady's behaviour infringed Mr J was born in Egypt, has worked in Aus- his son struck Ms P, and that they did not want to hear dy, and has been living for two years in a faith-based equality legislation, ZARA advised Ms A to seek advice 80 tria for 30 years, and lives with his family in anything that he had to say. He would be receiving student home. In May Ms R booked a single room for from Helping Hands Graz. Ms A followed this advice. Vienna. There are often problems with the building a letter from their lawyer. Mr J was enraged that the the coming semester with the home's management. In At the time of writing there were no new develop- caretaker Ms P, especially when the family must ob- building management was not interested in finding October however it was not allocated to her. When Ms ments in the case. tain the key to the laundry facilities from Ms P when out what the situation of both parties was like. Some R enquired about the reason she was told that another they want to wash. These problems have included Mr weeks later a notice of eviction was delivered to Mr J student had already been given the room. There had Mr U was born in Sierra Leone and reported J and his family being insulted and made fun of for and his family. apparently been an “exceptional” situation. The other 78 to ZARA that he and his family were having their Egyptian background and Muslim beliefs by Ms A ZARA employee gave Mr J support in drafting student was an Austrian. Ms R explained that she was repeated problems with their downstairs neighbour, P and her family. an objection to the notice of eviction, and in claiming also Austrian. The home's management disagreed and Mr Z. Mr Z was disturbed by noise that he claimed was In April there was an escalation in the conflict. Mrs legal aid. At the time of writing the case is still in pro- indicated that because of her headscarf she was not a caused by Mr U's family. He was therefore constantly J was making use of the laundry facilities with her son gress. “real Austrian.” banging on the ceiling or the door to complain about when Ms P stormed in and claimed that the washing In November Ms R brought this case to ZARA's the noise. Mr U and his family sought to do everything machine was overloaded. She then stopped the ma- Mrs J is married to a Nigerian and they live attention. She wanted to know if anything could be at their disposal to reduce and avoid noise from their chine. When she then started to call Mrs P a “whore,” 81 together in a flat in Vienna. Mr J was alone in done against this injustice. ZARA explained possible flat. Mr and Mrs U also constantly reminded their two Mrs J decided to return to her flat with her son. A short the flat one morning in March. He was on the phone legal avenues available under equality legislation and children that they had to be quiet. time later Ms P came to the flat with the police. When with a friend when he suddenly heard a female voice, then began writing a letter of complaint to the home's When Mr U and his family had a visitor from the Mr J opened the door he was immediately insulted by “Pack in that screaming!” When Mrs J returned from management. USA in April, Mr Z came once more to their door and Ms P. She was standing beside the police officer and work in the early evening she found a post-it on the Before the letter was sent, Ms R re-contacted ZARA knocked. When Ms U answered the door, Mr Z comp- called him a, “bloody Arab” and told him to “bugger off door of her home. It said, “That bloody N... [*] can go however. She reported that she had spoken to the lained that chairs were being moved too loudly and back” to his own country. and scream in the jungle.” Mrs J was very shocked that home's management again. The management infor- that he simply couldn't stand it. When the family friend The officers asked if Mrs J's son had struck Ms P at her husband had been racially insulted in such a way. med her that the room wasn't given to an Austrian, from the USA came to join them at the door, Mr Z in- the laundry facilities. Mr J and his family denied that ZARA documented the incident. but to a French woman. Ms R was again being discri- sulted them, calling both “bloody N...[*]s.” Eventually minated against despite fulfilling all the requirements Mr U also came to the door and demanded that Mr Z for being allocated the room. leave because it wasn't late and they had the right to A couple of days later, Ms R was told by the sec- move around and to converse at a normal volume in retary at the home that the room would be available their own home. for her after all. Ms R now decided against taking any In retaliation, Mr Z struck Ms U in the face with further steps as she was only planning to stay for one his fist using enough force that her lip was cut. The more semester. However she felt that the behaviour family's American friend attempted to restrain Mr Z, of the home's management was improper. ZARA do- but was unsuccessful and Mr Z escaped to his flat. Mr cumented the incident. U immediately called the police who eventually pur- sued an investigation. Ms A rents a flat in Graz. In April she decided to Charges were filed against Mr Z for inflicting bodily 77 move. Because she had the option of withdra- harm. However charges were also brought against Ms wing from the contract early if she organised a repla- U when Mr Z claimed that she had choked and injured cement tenant she began searching for an applicant him. A ZARA employee accompanied Ms U to court for taking over the flat. A person of Kurdish descent in early November. The court did not find Mr Z's story viewed the flat and indicated that they would like to credible, finding Ms U innocent and giving Mr Z a cus- rent it. When Ms A informed the landlady of this she todial sentence. refused to rent to the Kurdish man with the following words, “We're not giving any more flats to foreigners Mr P is Austrian, but was born in Serbia. He or N... [*].” 79 has been living and working in Vienna for 20 Ms A replied that she could not accept that as a years. Since moving to a new flat two years ago there reason, whereupon the landlady told of exclusively have been problems with the building caretaker, who negative experiences with “foreigners” and reported lives below him. The caretaker constantly complains

38 39 Goods and Services · Bars, pubs, businesses and other service providers Goods and Services · Bars, pubs, businesses and other service providers

Bars, pubs, businesses and other service providers Mr A contacted ZARA in July because he had Mr V is a lawyer of Persian descent. In ear- 87 experienced a situation where a bar owner 90 ly March he wanted to go with friends to a in Braunau in Upper Austria had forbidden the use of bar in the 1st district of Vienna. The bouncer allowed Ms M is an Austrian citizen and has been Mr J visited a bar on the Vienna ring road in Turkish in the bar. This rule had been in place for some three of the friends of Austrian descent in, but told teaching at a University in India for many April. As he was leaving the bar with his gir- time and had been written about in a newspaper ar- Mr V and a friend of Iranian descent that they were 82 84 ticle some years before. The bar owner had printed being refused admittance. When asked, the bouncer months. In January she reported the following inci- lfriend he noticed that two black men were being re- the newspaper article and hung it on the wall. Mr A refused to give a reason. Mr V wanted more informa- dent to ZARA. During a stay in Austria, she and a few fused entry. When he asked the bouncer why, he was wanted to know if such a ban was legal. ZARA exp- tion and asked a series of questions to ascertain if the friends wanted to take three students of Indian descent told that people like him would not visit the club if it lained the legal situation and documented the case. decision was because of his clothes, his demeanour, to a bar in the Schwedenplatz area of central Vienna. had a liberal door policy. From this reply Mr J deduced Mr A offered to contact ZARA again when someone the amount of alcohol he had drank etc. The bouncer The group entered the pub, but after a few moments that the colour of the men's skin had been the reason affected by the ban wanted to press charges. answered emphatically in the negative to each ques- noticed that the three Indian students were missing. they were refused entry. tion. Eventually he told Mr V that he and his friend When they returned to the entrance they found that ZARA informed Mr J of the possibility of filing char- Mr C and six other witnesses reported the fol- didn't, “fit in with the clientèle.” His boss had told him the three had been refused admittance by the bouncer. ges under the ➞ Introductory Act to the Administrati- lowing incident to ZARA. Mr C’s parents are not to let people like them in. Ms M asked why, but received no answer. Because the 88 ve Procedure Acts and did so at his request. However of Egyptian descent, although he has lived in Vienna Mr V wrote a letter of complaint to the bar. This three students were the only ones of the group refused Mr J did not get back in touch. since birth. In early November, Mr C visited a bar on was answered by a firm of lawyers. In the letter the admittance, Ms M is sure that their ethnic background the Vienna ring road because a friend was having a bar manager claimed that Mr V and his friend had was the reason they were refused. Mr A is a Nigerian citizen and wanted to go birthday there. Mr C was immediately stopped for a been refused admittance because of their, “obvious ZARA explained her legal options to Ms M, but she 85 to a Cuban dance club in Vienna with his gir- moment at the entrance, but then “as an exception” intoxicated state“ and, “aggressive behaviour.” Mr V just wanted to know that the case had been documen- lfriend in March. Mr A was refused entry at the door. allowed in when it was made known that he was there was very surprised by this claim, as the bouncer had ted, as she and the students had to return to India in When he inquired about the reason why, the bouncer for the birthday. emphatically indicated that these were not the rea- the near future. told him that there was a private function that night. About an hour later the manager and a second sons. Mr V contacted ZARA. After extended consulta- Mr A and his girlfriend found this hard to believe and man came up to Mr C and demanded that he accom- tion, charges were filed against the bar under the ➞ In mid-January Ms K wanted to travel on the Vi- waited near the club. When a group left the club, they pany them to the door. There Mr C was told that he Introductory Act to the Administrative Procedure Acts. enna metro. When she entered the station she 83 asked them about the situation and were told that to- was not a regular and that he therefore had to vacate The ➞ Litigation Association of NGOs Against Discri- noticed that a woman was lying on the floor. A small night was business as usual. At this point it became the bar. He remarked that none of the other 15-20 bir- mination also offered Mr V support in bringing a claim child was standing next to her. She approached the wo- clear to Mr A that his skin colour was the reason that thday party guests were regulars either, but no noti- for damages under equality legislation. At the time of man where she lay, and discovered that the woman was he was being refused entry. ce was taken. Eventually the owner claimed that Mr writing both cases are ongoing. dazed but still capable of talking. Ms K told the woman Mr A approached ZARA for advice. Many previous C had been seen on the CCTV bothering three other that she would call an ambulance. The woman did not clients had complained about this club’s discrimina- people at the bar. Mr C replied that he had only talked Ms B contacted ZARA in August to report a si- object and remained calm. tory door policy. In addition, a test case before the ➞ to his friends since entering the bar. Mr C rang the bar tuation experienced by her African American While they waited a group of onlookers gathered. 91 Equal Treatment Commission had established that it the next day. A second manager apologised for the life partner, Mr G. When Mr G tried to get a taxi at Vien- Because the woman on the floor spoke only broken infringed on equality legislation. Because of this, Mr A incident and invited him to come by for a couple of na Südbahnhof rail station, several of the taxi drivers German the onlookers seemed to think it appropriate was advised to pursue legal action against the club. Mr free drinks as compensation. Mr C did not consider refused to take him. This seemed to be something to say things such as, “These Slav women are always just A agreed and ZARA is filing new charges at the Equal this apology sufficient as he considered his ejection that the drivers had agreed between each other. Mr pretending,” and, “I hope they take her kid away.” When Treatment Commission under the ➞ Introductory Act to be racially motivated. He therefore contacted ZARA G could not understand the drivers well because they two female employees of the public transport company to the Administrative Procedure Acts against the club. to enquire about possible legal steps. ZARA wrote a were speaking in a Slavic language. When he complai- arrived, Ms K hoped that they would help her care for letter of complaint to the bar management. They took ned and took a note of the taxi licence plates he was At time of printing Mr A had already been interviewed the woman who was in obvious distress. Instead, they the position that there had been no discrimination, insulted (“You motherfucker” and similar insults). by the commission. The result of the investigation is lifted the woman to her feet and demanded that she and that it was because other guests had been bothe- Because Mr G was well dressed and had not been however not yet available. vacate the station. red. The management offered to meet with Mr C to drinking alcohol, the suspicion is that he was refused Because the woman was very weak she collapsed talk. ZARA passed on the bar's reaction to Mr C and service because of the colour of his skin. Because Mrs P told ZARA that her husband Mr Z, who repeatedly. When Ms K indicated that she thought the asked if he would like to take further steps. At the time there were witnesses to the incident Ms B contacted was born in Egypt, was attending a German woman was having an epileptic fit, one of the emplo- 86 of writing Mr Z had not replied to ZARA's enquiry. ZARA to inform herself of the legal avenues availab- course in Vienna. The course leader is reported to yees replied that this could not be the case because the le in the face of this discrimination. ZARA suggested have said things such as, “Why don't the Turks go back woman was not foaming at the mouth. Ms K disagreed In January Ms I was travelling on the metro in that Mr G file charges under the ➞ Introductory Act home, they were just guest workers.” “All blacks are and insisted that the woman be allowed to rest on the 89 Vienna. A female employee of the transport to the Administrative Procedure Acts and contact the floor. The two transport service employees released the dealers.” and “I can't go to Africa on holiday, because company entered the carriage with a colleague and ➞ Equal Treatment Commission. Neither Ms B nor Mr woman, but told her that social services would now there are so many dead dogs in the Nile.” She is repor- started checking tickets. Ms I watched as an argument G subsequently contacted ZARA to actually take legal undoubtedly take away her child. After a few more mi- ted to have emphasised on more than one occasion broke out between a black passenger and the fema- action against the taxi drivers. nutes the woman was starting to feel better, and was that she liked Serbs the best of “the lot of them.” She le ticket inspector. As the female ticket inspector left also able to stand . When the ambulance arrived, the said that she would even provide course materials the carriage she said to the passenger, “For goodness Mr L is Austrian, and his mother is of Brazilian woman, who was slowly regaining full consciousness, free of charge to Serbs. sake, why don't you just get back to the jungle!” 92 descent. In summer he was invited by friends was so agitated and insecure that she would not go Ms P requested that ZARA document these state- Ms I reported the racist incident to ZARA and re- to a birthday party in a bar in one of the arches on the with the ambulance to the hospital. She left the station ments. Mr Z did not want to complain about the quested that it be documented. She contacted cus- Vienna ring road. Shortly after midnight Mr L met two with her child in visible distress. course leader for the moment as the date of his exam tomer services at the local transport company herself friends, one is of Bosnian descent, the other Austrian. Ms K decided to complain to the local transport com- was approaching and he feared that he would be and complained about the behaviour of the female They went together to the bar. The Austrian was the pany about the behaviour of the two employees. Howe- failed. After the exam was completed he did not get ticket inspector. At the time of writing Ms I had not first of the friends to attempt to gain entry, but was ver she did not subsequently contact ZARA again. back in touch. informed ZARA of the response she received. refused because the shorts he was wearing did not

40 41 Goods and Services · Bars, pubs, businesses and other service providers Goods and Services · Bars, pubs, businesses and other service providers satisfy club clothing rules. When Mr L and the young Association of NGOs Against Discrimination. At time with her boyfriend to the plasma centre. There she What happened to... ? man of Bosnian descent attempted to gain entry they of writing the association is helping Ms J to prepare a immediately found an information leaflet with the re- were refused on the basis that only regulars were al- claim for compensation for pain and suffering caused quirements for giving blood. It explained that people Case 82 Racism Report 2007 lowed that night. by the discriminatory treatment she was subjected at increased risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis were Mr L informed the bouncer that they were both to. automatically excluded from giving blood. People In January Ms P reported that her and her boyfriend, guests at a birthday party. The bouncer replied that from certain regions of increased incidences of HIV/ who was born in Africa, wanted to go to a birthday they would only be allowed in if their names were on a In January Ms W visited a bar in the inner city Aids were also excluded without exception. The regi- party being held at a bar in Vienna. When her boy- list of birthday guests. But when the bouncer made no 94 of Salzburg with a friend. On the menu she ons were Africa, the Caribbean and South-East Asia. friend was refused admittance the manager remarked effort to check any list it became clear to Mr L that the discovered a drink that was a mixture of white beer When Ms F asked the lady at the information desk that next time they should warn the venue if they bouncer was seeking an excuse to refuse admittance and cola called the “N...[*]". She brought this to the about the requirements listed in the leaflet she was wanted to bring any black people. When this happe- based on race. Mr L confronted the bouncer with his attention of the waiter so that he could tell the ma- informed that there were legal requirements that the ned the whole party moved to a nearby restaurant, suspicion that the actual reason that they were being nagement that she did not think it appropriate to use centre must adhere to. but the manager of this establishment also indicated refused admittance was that he was a racist. The a racist epithet as the name for a drink, and that the According to ZARA's research, all donors are exami- that black people were not welcome there. ➞ bouncer did not enter into any further discussion and management should consider renaming it. ned individually for illness in a compatibility test in or- ZARA has brought charges under the Introduc- demanded that the two go on their way. Because Ms W had had a pleasant evening with her der to prevent the use of plasma that is dangerous to tory Act to the Administrative Procedure Acts against Before Mr L and his two friends went they observed colleagues at the bar, she decided to talk to the mana- the health of others. According to the blood donation both owners and there are ongoing cases before the ➞ an acquaintance of Austrian descent, who was not a ger in person before she went. She politely explained regulations drafted by the Plasma Institute, no blood Equal Treatment Commission. regular, gain entrance to attend the birthday without why she found the name of the drink inappropriate donor is excluded entirely based on their ethnic back- encountering any problems. Mr L contacted ZARA and and indicated that she would be contacting ZARA ground. What happened in 2008: after a long deliberation, ZARA and Mr L initiated legal about the incident. The manager reacted angrily to Based on this information ZARA sent a complaint In March Ms P, her boyfriend Mr I, and other witnesses ➞ proceedings at the Equal Treatment Commission. her criticism and asked Ms W what her name was so to the parent company of the plasma donation cen- testified before the Equal Treatment Commission. In The case is ongoing at time of writing. that he could sue her for slander. Ms W explained that tre to bring to their attention the practice of a blanket December Mr I received the preliminary findings. The- her criticism was well-meant as potential black guests ban on Africans and their partners. se stated that the Equal Treatment Commission consi- Ms J is an Austrian student. Her parents were might well take the menu term “N...[*]". personally and The parent company regretted the impression that dered that Mr I had in fact been discriminated against 93 born in Nigeria. One evening in September feel insulted. The manager felt that he was being thre- they had been discriminatory. The company said that due to his ethnicity. she and her boyfriend Mr T, who is a white Austrian, atened, accused of racism, and that his character was donor regulations would be examined to make sure decided to go to a bar for a drink. Because it was al- being defamed. He told Ms W that he would find out that they conformed to the latest medical practice. What happened in 2009: most midnight they decided on an Irish pub near Ms who she was and that she would have the law to deal The blanket ban on people from areas of increased J's home. As they tried to enter the pub Ms J was re- with. However he did also indicate that he would re- risk would be reduced to a twelve month ban. This is Mr I, represented together by ZARA and the ➞ Litiga- fused admittance by one of the bouncers. Mr T asked, consider the name of the drink for the summer menu an improvement on the existing situation but it is still tion Association of NGOs Against Discrimination, de- somewhat enraged, if he would be allowed to enter to avoid “offending the sensibilities” of his clientèle. discrimination based on ethnic background. cided to claim for damages against the bar operator. alone, and was told that he would, upon which he Ms W reported the incident to ZARA. ZARA con- ZARA will be examining the new rules, along with This was based on the encouraging preliminary fin- asked if the reason Ms J was being refused admittance tacted the bar manager encouraging his intention to the ➞ Ombud for Equal Treatment, who have also be- dings and the chance of a positive case outcome.. Mr I was because of the colour of her skin. The bouncer change the drink's name on the new menu. The bar come involved due to these discriminatory practices. decided against a claim against the restaurant mana- also replied in the affirmative to this question. manager did not respond to the letter. ger because there had been a management change in In the face of this barefaced discrimination Ms J the interim. At the time of writing there has still been was furious. She demanded over and over again that Last year ZARA was contacted by two women no adjudication in the case. the bouncer repeat the racist things he had said, wit- 95 independent of one another, who had both hout any reaction from the bouncer. Meanwhile, her been prevented from giving blood because they had boyfriend had entered the pub and was attempting had “sexual contact” with Africans. to find out the bouncer's name. He was unable to find Mrs X is Austrian and has been married to a West out the bouncer’s name and when he returned to the African man for twelve years. They have three children door, saw that Ms J had forced her way into the pub together and live in Austria. She wanted to give blood entrance area attempting to discuss the matter with and was required to fill in a form. People with an in- the bouncer. Mr T persuaded his girlfriend to let the creased risk of contracting HIV/Aids were advised that incident lie and to leave the pub with him. Two wit- they would be excluded from giving blood, risk factors nesses who introduced themselves as “regulars” also mentioned included, “(male) homosexuality, use of left with them, explaining that they had lost interest needles to inject drugs, West African descent and/or in ever returning. They also felt compelled to apolo- a sexual relationship with a man or woman from West gise for the bouncer's behaviour. They accompanied Africa.“ Ms X considered this blanket exclusion discri- Ms J and her boyfriend to another bar where they ex- minatory, and did not complete the form. She spoke changed contact details. with the doctor who informed her that she would not Menschenrechte müssen für alle gelten. Up to that point, Ms J had only heard of this sort be allowed to give blood based on the grounds listed of racist door policy from her black friends and had in the form. She went home disappointed. Für eine Gesellschaft ohne Rassismus und never before experienced it. She contacted ZARA for Ms Y is in a relationship with an African man and information about the legal situation. As ZARA had al- wanted to go with him to give blood. She had been Ungleichbehandlung! ready successfully prosecuted this pub under equality warned by a friend that an acquaintance’s blood had legislation two years prior for a similar situation, Ms J been refused because of their African descent. Our cli- Maria Vassilakou, Klubobfrau Grüne Wien wien.gruene.at was immediately put in contact with the ➞ Litigation ent assumed this was an isolated incident, and went

42 43 Racism as a reaction to work against racism Racism as a reaction to work against racism

on the stage and the audience. Before anyone could “Greedy is too noble a word for people like you who can't Racism as a reaction to intervene, he left the library. Two days later a website behave in a Central European way. And don't act all in- that contains incitements to anti-semitism and far- sulted, because we Austrians pay your € 8,700,... salary. right propaganda published an article titled “ZARA in- And you should thank the Austrians for stuffing your work against racism citing hatred again.” The article reported on the ZARA: greedy pockets with that much money in this country. Talk and described ZARA as “an outrider in the battle And it's not like we want a lot. All we want is the huge to swamp Austria with immigrants”. It also mentioned number of uninvited guests in our homeland to behave that a film was going to be put together for use as a properly!!!“ Year after year, insults are left by people on the ZARA answering machine. Most seem to be left by people who are “training film in nationalism.” The article concluded confirmed in their negative attitude to ZARA, but it is not clear in the case of some if there is any political motiva- with the following paragraph, “In our opinion it is a “Green crap, pack of shit! tion. Few are as dedicated as the elderly lady who has for years been leaving hateful tirades on a nearly daily basis. good idea to use such a film as a training resource. A (This sort of thing can only come from Green, Austria Just as dedicated is the person who spits on our office windows almost daily. film like this can show the degeneracy and inability haters)” of career anti-fascists to grasp the feelings and ideas Exposure to such behaviour is to be expected in this sector, but far-right activists appearing and photographing of nationalists. Nothing but hatred and incitements to “Anyone who loves Austria must be shit – that's what you attendees at events such as the ZARA:Talk, and also the insults we are exposed to can make this work very unple- hatred come from these sad old anti-fascists." think of Austria. You are all a shitty rabble! asant. Even more frustrating is that after ten years of work and ten Racism Reports listing uncountable cases of Mrs Turk, 64 more freeloaders from your homeland have discrimination there is still too little being done to combat racist intimidation and institutional racism. In response to an appeal for donations at come illegally to “bloody Austria“. 102 the end of the year, ZARA received the fol- They're so poor that they can all give the people lowing anonymous message. smugglers 10,000 EUROS a head to come here, such a “ZARA is worried about survival – The appeal: we urgent- group of scum. Scum stays scum. Hopefully Ms Walther In February a man wrote to ZARA, giving That our tax money was being given to this arsehole or- ly need society's support! [name changed] could at least dry these East Anatolian 96 his full name, e-mail address and telephone ganisation with the same name, I only found out when bed-wetters. What kind of lowlifes are the greens if they number, to say, “You parasites should lose all your sub- you bastards started interfering with police checking the 1. Keep worrying you dipshits. defend these creatures.” sidies! The taxpayer pays for your useless office any- creatures that have brought this sickness to our land. 2. The only people getting our support (not just money) way! You pinko nitwits, now you can take me to court! are the people suffering under this rabble's migration. In mid April ZARA received the following You're anti-Austrian and Traitors!“ You shits, whoever you are can piss off. Who needs you, 104 message from “Adolf Bdolf”: you lefty idiots? Nobody. Go get a proper job instead of AGAINST N...[*]IFICATION AND MUSLEMIFICATION! “When: for decades Shortly after the publication of the 2008 Ra- standing up for all the thieves and murderers. I hope Hit- AGAINST INFILTRATION AND FOREIGN DOMINATION! Where: the whole of Austria 97 cism report, Mr S wrote to ZARA to say, “Para- ler is watching, because then these shitty people won't AGAINST RACIAL RELOCATION AND MISCEGENATION!“ Who was involved: Turks and their Austrian accomplices noid Anxiety is very treatable these days, with good be here much longer, they'll be in prison. One citizen in What happened: Turkish gangs bother, annoy and thre- prospects for recovery. So why not get professional the name of many” The Green spokesperson on human rights, aten indigenous Austrians, especially Austrian women. help with your schizophrenic, mental disorders?” 103 Alev Korun, requested that ZARA docu- Every attempt at protection against the unwanted and In early November AFRA – the Internati- ment several e-mails she received after taking part in unasked for characters of low civilisation and socialisa- Mr K sent the following e-mail to ZARA in late 100 onal Center for Black Women's Perspecti- a television debate on asylum in the summer. Using tion is dismissed as racism and anti-foreigner sentiment. 98 March. ves received some hate mail. The letter insulted the “Green asylum and foreigner idiocy” as his e-mail sub- We should be happy that there are parties who are pro- “Dear friends at ZARA!! head of the association, Beatrice Achaleke, and the ject Mr L supplied his full name and wrote; mising to help.“ I can name you 10 assaults by groups of foreigners on journalist, Simon Inou, calling them, “genetically sub- Austrians right now, and these never make it to court be- standard” and claiming black people in general are, cause nobody cares, or is too frightened of being called “of lesser intelligence.” The author also wrote, “It's not a Nazi or racist. I've never seen Nazis marching or skin- for nothing, and this is what I tell my pupils, that N... heads fighting in Austria, but I've often seen foreigners [*] never made anything creative or innovative, apart with knives and bats beating Austrians. They don't care from Jazz and Rap. And these are real examples of a about Austrians, especially young women. The Turks debased culture.” and Africans are the worst for this!!! And Austrians are In an article at http://derstandard.at/12567456394 starting to wake up to the fact that we aren't an immig- 91/Ermittlungen-gegen-Lehrer-Rassistische-Hetze-im- ration country, instead the boat is full, because so many Unterricht it is reported that because of the above pas- pretend asylum seekers are here already that it's not sage the ➞ Office for the Protection of the Constitu- possible to integrate them all, because there are already tion and the Fight Against Terrorism are investigating. too many ghetto housing estates where it looks like the Based on the location that the letter was posted, it is Orient or a slum.“ surmised that the writer was a teacher from the Wie- Mr K. has not provided concrete details to ZARA of the ner Neustadt area. At the time of writing there were racist attacks on Austrians that he mentions. no new developments in the investigation.

In late September we received the following On 24th November there was a ZARA: 99 anonymous letter in relation to the Vienna 101 Talk at the Vienna Central Library entitled: Police checks that ZARA criticised as ➞ ethnic profi- “Beyond the law against the reintroduction of National ling (see case 57 in the ‘Police’ chapter). Socialism: Neo-nazi Propaganda on the Internet.” Du- “I had only heard of ZARA as a women's fashion chain. ring the event a man photographed the participants

44 45 10 Years – moral courage and anti-racism work · “No area of life has become freer from racism” 10 Years – moral courage and anti-racism work · “No area of life has become freer from racism”

ded the two issues of racism and moral courage as mence that is above European average, and we were inseparable and therefore decided to attach impor- no better prepared for that than anybody else. 10 Years tance to moral courage at ZARA, too. When looking at the Racism Report, one is bound to find that the stories have always been quite similar. Were there moments were ZARA might also have Unfortunately, the main observation still holds today: moral courage and anti-racism work failed? All areas of life are affected, and there are no “protec- There were a small number of moments when things ted” areas, no area of life has become “freer” from ra- were at a tipping point and the general sentiment was cism. like: “okay, we’re giving up now!” For financial reasons, “No area of life has become freer from racism” the permanent pressure really got to us, and also for Which changes have taken place regarding the work structural reasons. But I feel that we did quite well in of ZARA? overcoming these crises and in consistently procee- We realized that we did not only want to counsel Dieter Schindlauer, ZARA chairman and founding member, describes the beginnings of ZARA and talks about ding closer to our goals. victims, but also to fight the causes and to make a challenges, success and failure in the following interview. change to the problem’s foundation. Training and Where did ZARA fail? public relations activities are very important here. In We did not succeed in establishing ourselves among this respect, we tried to move away from individual The anti-racism-hotline of Helping Hands was ZARA’s that might turn into a problem if right-wing claims the general population – and this simply has to be case stories. I still remember how, at the times of the predecessor. How did it begin? were to remain uncountered. stated as it is – that for principled reasons, anti-racism hotline, we closely cooperated with the media and Helping Hands Vienna offered counselling in foreig- [Translator’s comment: The “Lichtermeer” (sea of lights) work requires a professional approach, with work that launched photo stories with victims. Thus, we put our ner and asylum law. When you do that, you notice in refers to a large scale demonstration in 1993 against does not come for free but needs to be paid for, and stakes on human interest and compassion. passing the every-day racism the clients are confron- xenophobic political claims that advanced most promi- that it requires expertise that cannot be found on eve- In contrast, ZARA refrained from that approach ted with, and the question arises: Why isn’t anybody nently through a petition launched by the Austrian Free- ry corner. from the beginning, because the victim image was so taking care of this? dom Party.] There is this permanent struggle for a minimal strong and this contributed to reproducing the idea of Campaigns or events on the issue of racism indeed budget that can cover the basics of our work, and in victims as almost angelic. What we had in fact experi- existed, but there was no counselling center addres- Then the hotline was dissolved. What happened next? this respect there just is no light at the end of the tun- enced were the efforts in media discourse to destroy sing racist discrimination at the individual level and Several former members of the hotline team teamed nel. In my view, this is a failure I cannot explain: not on the individuals’ angelic image and to picture them in doing something against it. This was the starting point up again, convinced that it was necessary such a the basis of our work, and not on the basis of the way a bad light – providing material to support the allega- for founding the anti-racism-hotline. counselling institution continue to exist. After all we ZARA presents itself. tions that they had somehow deserved it. had experienced, we knew how much such a thing I can see something of an explanation in so far as Another problem is the portrayal of perpetrators, What were the biggest obstacles at that time? was needed. we may be the victims of our own success. A whole lot who are either completely removed or demonised. First of all, it was an open issue what possibilities were of people believe that we must have an incredible lot Such treatment puts the individuals in question into available at all to take steps against racist discriminati- Today, a very important component of ZARA can be of resources because we are so extremely active and a position from which they cannot escape. Especially on. On the one hand, the legal situation was still very found in the field of further education offered in the so visible and so well known. The reality, however, is with stories involving the police, this turned out to be poor; on the other hand, nobody had previously ap- form of trainings. How did this line of work start? that we are not adequately equipped with resources, extremely counterproductive, because the perpertra- proached the subject. We were the first ones ever to I was in the fortunate position to receive funding for a whole lot of volunteering is needed, team members tors portrayal once again fuels prejudice. This in turn file complaints under the ➞ Introductory Act to the training in the USA due to political circumstantances. are needed to work weird hours, and to perform bet- leads to the respective people assuming a defensive Administrative Procedure Acts (Einführungsgesetz zu I returned with a number of quite interesting training ter in every respect than on other comparable jobs, position, which ultimately ends any learning process. den Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetzen, EGVG). At that approaches and I said: We might achieve something with no possibility to receive full compensation for time, this was the only relevant law besides constitu- like that here as well. We were feeling quite inspired so their performance. What do you consider ZARA’s greatest success? tional provisions and criminal law. Later on, the de- we developed our own training concepts. A genuine and visible sucess is our campaign against velopment went surprisingly fast. Soon we received However, at that time, this was not very much Has the allegation of ZARA being an association of Reds discriminatory job and housing ads. However, it is dif- many, many reports. We got more and more submer- sought after, rather, we received a whole lot of in- and Greens always been there since the beginning? ficult to speak of improvements in the latter respect, ged in the subject matter. quiries for talks and presentations. But for us, that That was basically totally irrelevant, because all poli- because presumably discrimination in the allocation Already with the hotline, we initiated public re- was rather dissatisfing because in our experience we tical parties found that we were certainly not in their of housing continues in ways that are not as public- lations work. A first Racism Report was drafted. This found this an ineffective means of reaching people. In camp, so they could not support us. However, it has to ly visible as housing advertisements. But for me, the was particularly important because we were continu- order to communicate our approaches, we needed to be said that the City of Vienna is the only public body normalcy and shamelessness of including “Austrians ally confronted with the statement that there was no bring in the emotional level, and we succeeded in this that has alway consistently made a contribution, while only” clauses in those ads was the worst thing about need for such a center, as racism was non-existent in through our trainings. others have generally been more or less reserved. that story. Austria. In the name of ZARA, moral courage comes first, befo- Are there topics that underwent a massive change Doesn’t this make it more difficult to get a grip on the Was the issue really totally denied? re anti-racism work. What is the origin of that? over these past ten years? underlying layer, i.e. to fight discrimination, which No, it was not like that, but it was claimed – and we still During the final phase of the hotline, we had a moral What really changed massively is the perspective on continues in job and housing allocation? get this argument today – that all there was were just courage week, where we traveled up and down the Islam. This did not come as a complete surprise to us, I think that it is easier to approach that layer once the individual cases, and not a real problem. Racism as a country and organised discussion events with local as- but the vehemence astonished us after all. first layer is removed, and the previous matter-of-fact- phenomenon was generally not perceived to exist. sociations and representatives from politics, business I remember we were still writing reports after 9/11 ness about discrimination is gone. But of course, there and the police. We received very positive feedback for where we stated that the situation in Austria was not is a continued need to fight discrimination in this area, Didn’t the “Lichtermeer” focus on just that issue? this week, and not just because at that time we were so bad. We explained that through the long history and not only by employing the moral argument that Not on the every-day racism that we concentrated on the only ones to take up the issue of moral courage. of the recognition of Islam as a religious community. one should not do this, but also by pointing out the very early on. Racism was rather seen as something What is most important, however, is that we regar- But then things took off at full speed, and with a vehe- fact that it is legally prohibited.

46 47 10 Years – moral courage and anti-racism work · “No area of life has become freer from racism” 10 Years – moral courage and anti-racism work · A dedicated team, generous donors and a good idea

Where else do you feel that ZARA has made a Mag. Dieter Schindlauer A dedicated team, generous donors and a good idea difference? is a founding member and We very clearly succeeded in setting up an institutio- the chairman of ZARA and ➞ nal basis for someone to react in a professional and, if president of the Litigation These elements made the founding of ZARA possible in autumn of 1999 and continue to contribute to ZARA’s possible, unemotional way – and also to try and work Association of NGOs against success to the present day. A look back on ten years of ZARA. on a strategic level. Discrimination. A lawyer, What many people presumably do not know: We he is a consultant with in-

have made efforts – initially on our own, and later ternational organisations 2 “In the beginning, we had nothing at all, then SOS Mit- In 1994, students in Vienna together with the ➞ Litigation Association – to in- and European governmen- Lack of problem awareness initiated the organisation mensch provided us with a small room, we sponged Helping Hands (http://www. fluence legal developments, through opinions and tal and non-governmental But in the beginning it was not only the lack of resour- helpinghands.at/) which litigation. This ultimately earned us a certain standing organisations and a diver- computers from all kinds of sources – and then Verena offered counselling in ces that made work difficult. In the early days of ZARA, foreigner law. Krausneker’s mother laid the incredible sum of 10,000 in the law-making area. Our opinions do not simply sity trainer. He is a freelance collaborator of the Ludwig there was no awareness of the problem of racism in Schillings on the table and said: “Do something!”, get thrown in the bin, because people have realized: Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights and the Austrian Austria “Racism? That exists in South Africa!”, Verena ZARA chairman Dieter Schindlauer describes the If they criticize something, and it remains in the law, member of the European Commission’s group of inde- Krausneker, also a founding member and long time NGO’s beginnings. Individuals provided ZARA with they will later find a way to claim just that in court. pendent experts monitoring the implementation of the collaborator of ZARA, summarizes an attitude very office equipment, paper, pencils, etc. Xiane Kangela I also believe that we have succeeded in being anti-discrimination directives. common at that time. volunteered to work regular office hours on the pre- heard in public. Even if the Freedom Party repeatedly The lack of awareness also was reflected by the fact launches parliamentary enquiries aiming at finding mises of SOS Mitmensch. that prior to the installation of the anti-racism hotline, some fault with our work, there is something positive Thus, the idea behind the beginning of ZARA beca- no one in Austria had dealt with the question of le- to that, too, because there apparently are some con- me a reality: To set up a place for victims and witnes- gal remedies against discrimination. The law provided cerns that we might actually achieve something. ses of racism to turn to, where they could receive free only a few legal instruments (See Interview with Dieter legal counselling. That there was a need for that was Schindlauer on p. 46). It was only after a conviction by The Interview was conducted by Sonja Fercher. known to the founding members from their work with the European Court of Justice that Austria transposed the anti-racism hotline that was set up at the NGO Hel- the EU anti-discrimination directives of the year 2000. ping Hands Vienna and counselled victims of racism In 2004, the Austrian parliament adopted the relevant (See also the interview with Dieter Schindlauer on p. 46). amendment to the Equal Treatment Act, which intro- When that was closed down, they got together in au- duced more specific instruments to legally counter tumn 1999 and founded ZARA – moral courage and discrimination. ZARA got actively involved in that pro- anti-racism work. cess by drafting opinions and contributing from their experience with the counselling center, in order to Concentration on every-day racism make improvements in the interest of their clients. ZARA strives not only to offer individual support Thus it was not the imminent People’s Party and once someone already has become a victim or wit- Freedom Party coalition government that led to the ness of racism. Already during its first year, the team founding of ZARA, as the founding year of 1999 might started to develop further education opportunities in suggest. Rather, the decisive factor was the concrete the area of anti-racism and moural courage, thus ma- experience with Helping Hands, which also contribu- king efforts in preventive work. ted to ZARA’s focussing on every-day racism from the beginning and regarding racism as something perfor- Diversity in companies med by people from all layers of society: “The people A big step ahead in the developement of ZARA was WUK_rassismus report_zara 09.02.2010 15:07 Uhr Seite 1 voicing racism are not followers of the Freedom Party made possible by the project “Equal Chances in Com- in particular, but completely average people”, Verena panies”, funded by the EU in the framework of the Krausneker explains. EQUAL initiative from 2002 to 2005. In this project, Surprisingly soon after the association was found- ZARA dealt with the issue of “diversity in companies” ed, the counselling center was installed and took up – a subject area in which ZARA is still active today. To- work in the year 2000. “We used our contacts to let gether with a number of companies, so called “codes people know we were there, and suddenly the phone of conduct” were developed, laying down company- started ringing”, Schindlauer recalls. Four days a week, specific rules for multi-ethnic cooperation. Addressing team members alternately provided counselling, initi- discrimination in the workplace or preventing it in the ally on an honorary basis. Already during the first year, first place should become open possiblities. Thereby, Interkulturelle Initiativen this changed. In October 2000, ZARA received its first equal opportunities for employees from different eth- WUK Gesellschaft & Politik public funding from the City of Vienna’s Fund for Inte- nic backgrounds should be ensured. WUK Werkstätten- und Kulturhaus Bildung & Beratung gration, and team members Xiane Kangela and Mar- First of all, this meant that ZARA was in for an en- tin Wagner together could be present in the office, 40 tirely practical change: In order to be able to offer a Währinger Straße 59 www.wuk.at hours a week. Initially, this funding was limited to six workplace for the nine people employed in this pro- 1090 Wien months; the limit was later extended to a year. Howe- ject, a new office was needed. Once more, individual WUKTelefon 01-401 21-0 ver, continuing to the present day, the funding is far persons generously supported ZARA: Christian and from sufficient for ZARA’s activities. Ingrid Reder generously provided the sum that was

48 49 10 Years – moral courage and anti-racism work · A dedicated team, generous donors and a good idea 10 Years – moral courage and anti-racism work · A dedicated team, generous donors and a good idea

3 For more information on 7see http://www.zara.or.at/ ZARA’s training offers, see required to cover the expenses for refurbishing the trainings. Thereby ZARA has been trying to attract at- built up a reputation and is now recognized as an ex- Insufficient basic funding index.php/kategorie/zaratalk www.zara.or.at/trainings premises at Luftbadgasse, which the team had deci- tention to issues where we see a need for action. Vere- pert in the field. By now, journalists not only approach An essential cause for ZARA’s difficult situation is the 4 See Wolfgang Zimmer ded on. Architect Ulrich Beckefeld managed to turn na Krausneker, the first head of ZARA public relations, the ZARA team to ask for their views on racism, but (2008) “Campaign against insufficient basic funding of the counselling center for ‘Austrians only’ adverts the locale that seemed so little suited for an office, into postulates: “ZARA has made racism a suitable topic also when they are writing about moral courage and unveiled structural irregu- just that: “This used to be a postal service storehouse for reporting. Now, it has been established that this integration. victims and witnesses of racism. Indeed, ZARA recei- larities”, in: Racism Report ved the first public funds from the City of Vienna in 2007, pp. 66f with seven showers and partition walls – awful! But it topic has its place in domestic and local issues.” One In order to get into closer contact with people sym- the first year of its existence, but to the present day 5 See Racism Report 2006, was the best place by far that we had found, and he important contribution in this respect certainly is the pathetic to ZARA and at the same time engage in sen- chapter “Racist Smearings”, Racism Report. Its presentation in the framework of a sitisation work, ZARA in 2006 started ZARA:Talk7. This the City of Vienna remains the only public body to pp. 22f” did an excellent job”, Schindlauer is still thrilled today. press conference is suitable to attract media attention discussion series provides a platform for information continuously support ZARA. In addition, the funds 6 See Racism Report 2008, only suffice to finance the counselling center for half a pp. 73ff; www.zara.or.at/ Painting walls, laying floor boards, instal- and in fact has succeeded in putting the topic of “ra- on and discussion of various aspects of racism and cleanpolitics ling sockets... cism” on the media agenda once a year. discrimination. Furthermore, ZARA is present at nu- year. Thus, ZARA needs to raise funds for its activities Besides this event, ZARA makes an effort to create merous events to inform about our political aims and – i.e., management, public relations, the trainings and Beckefeld also actively supported the ZARA team in public awareness of the fact that racism may not re- our offers, and also to win new members. In this area the counselling center – from projects, membership the refurbishing of their office. They had to paint the main uncontested, using sensitisation campaigns, in- of work, our volunteers play a crucial role. It is only fees, donations, proceeds from trainings and further walls, lay a new floor, fix sockets, and perform many cluding the information on how and where something possible for ZARA to use this path of networking with sources. other craftsman jobs. “When I started working at can be done against it. The best example, which has interested people because these individuals use their For this reason people at ZARA started to ponder ZARA’s, I did just about everything”, former head of also been the greatest success for ZARA so far, is the spare time to organise and attend to these informati- what other possible sources of funds were available. the ZARA counselling center Eva Bachinger recounts campaign against so-called “Austrians only” advertise- on platforms (For more in this, see p. 56). The former head of the counselling center, Hikmet Ka- with a smile. ZARA is based at Luftbadgasse today, ments4. Thereby we managed to create the awareness Reviewing the last 10 years of ZARA’s evolution, yahan, developed the idea of a fundraising clubbing now together with two other NGOs, the ➞ Litigation of this discrimination problem which was previously one would not be mistaken to speak of a success sto- to benefit ZARA. After months of preparation and the Association against Discrimination and the Network lacking: “With our campaign we made it clear that this ry: ZARA even received two prizes for the continued active support from volunteers like Christine Lohwas- Social Responsibility. is not permitted. I think that was a shock for some”, efforts, namely the Dr. Karl Renner Prize of the City ser, who coordinated everything, February 12, 2005, When the EQUAL-Project was over, ZARA had to Schindlauer recalls the reactions to the campaign. of Vienna, and the Bruno Kreisky Prize for Services to arrived at last, and the gates of Palais Auersperg ope- scale down again, as not all nine employees could be Other examples are the campaign against racist Human Rights. In 2008, ZARA’s chairman Dieter ned for the very first ZARA:MONIE. afforded long term. However, we managed to remain smearings5 or the clean politics campaigns ZARA Schindlauer received the federal badge of honor for connected with several former members of the pro- launched on the occasion of elections to the National merits in intercultural dialogue. Numerous artists supported ZARA by performing and ject team, such as ZARA team members, or members Council in 2006 and 2008 together with the Associa- Since its founding, ZARA has also undergone a entertaining the party guests for free. Politicians ex- of the ZARA pool of trainers, and to integrate the ac- tion of Viennese Youth Centres and wienXtra. These marked development and can now look back on a pressed their support through their presence, as did quired competences in various ways, retaining them campaigns pointed out racist slogans in elections rather eventful history and the many positive chan- numerous celebrities. Volunteers took care of the for ZARA. In this way, the project indirectly ensured campaigns as well as challenges to the fight against ges. Nevertheless one would be seriously mistaken to entrance fees, the security, the food and drink, were the further development and continued existence of racism6. Via an online petition and pins with the cam- take this for granted, as ZARA has to fear for its survi- available for questions or contributed in some other ZARA. paign logo, we also wanted to give civil society an val every year. ways to making the clubbing a success. Today, the ZARA pool of trainers comprises of opportunity to set a signal against racism during the over 20 ZARA trainers from various educational back- election campaign. grounds. Working on a free-lance basis, they do pre- ventive work in the framework of workshops tailored to a variety of target groups: from pupils to pedago- gues, multipliers, people working in public adminis- tration, NGOs and businesses. These trainings create awareness of one’s own identity and for the meaning of group membership and sensitize participants with regard to prejudice, stereotypes, and their effects on one’s own behaviour. Furthermore, they are intended to open the participants’ eyes to the structural dimen- Stop Racism! sions of discrimination as well as to the necessity of countering it. In addition, we offer moral courage In addition to the campaigns, ZARA also actively ap- workshops, which make participants fit for dealing proached journalists in order to draw their attention with verbal and physical racist assaults in public to problems or to publicize individual cases, in such know your rights! space. This is supplemented by workshops informing cases where the client wished the incidents to be participants of the legal possibilities to counter discri- publicized. For example, in 2004, a cooperation star- Die ZARA Lehrlingsbroschüre: bestellen mination.3 ted wtih derStandard.at, the online edition of the oder downloaden unter www.zara.or.at/kyr daily Der Standard. The special section of the online Racism put on the agenda editioned, under the heading “Stop racism” focused, among other things, on individual cases contributed The trainings also have an internal importance, as by ZARA. Also in 2004, our cooperation with the Vi- they make a significant contribution to financing enna street sale paper Augustin began, in which the Info: (01) 929 13 99 • www.zara.or.at • Uni Credit Bank Austria • Kto. 05211362800 • BLZ 12000 ZARA’s other activities. Besides the counselling center, column “Was geht’s mich an/Any business of mine?” this includes public relations activities, which aim to reflects upon issues and problems of anti-racism work reach more people than can be reached through the and places our own claims. Over the years, ZARA has

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Lehrlingsbrosch_INS_RZ.indd 1 01.03.2010 14:00:27 Uhr 10 Years – moral courage and anti-racism work · A dedicated team, generous donors and a good idea 10 Years – moral courage and anti-racism work · ZARA’s international dimension

Since 2006, thousands of party guests each year have Counselling as central element ZARA’s international dimension followed the call to give a high-spirited sign against racism and for moral courage, thus making an impor- If one leaves aside the meager political success in the fight against racism and instead measures success tant contribution to the finances of the ZARA coun- In Austria, it is mostly the European Union that gives lity of racism. The EUMC was not an organisation that first and foremost by the aim the founders formulated selling center by purchasing their entrance tickets. important impulses to anti-discrimination policies. In was well liked by the Austrian government and was ten years ago, namely to set up a place for victims and Sponsors from politics and business contributed their particular, EU directives have made an essential con- transformed into the “European Fundamental Rights witnesses of racism to turn to, it is evident that ZARA share to increasing the net gain. tribution to developing equal treatment legislation Agency” (FRA) in 2007 (http://fra.europa.eu). With the has developed a lot further than that. Last year, instead of ZARA:MONIE we celebrated in Europe, and thus also in Austria, further. For this help of the “Racism und Xenophobia Information Net- a big fund raising party on the occasion of ZARA’s reason, ZARA soon started to look out for contacts work” (RAXEN), in which ZARA has been taking part as But it still is the counselling center that is the central tenth birthday. Organiser Franz Aigner managed to in various member states, in order to be able to learn cooperation partner of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institu- element in the work of ZARA. As Krausneker rightly convince the internationally renowned Austrian Band from the experiences of others and to share our own te of Human Rights (http://bim.lbg.ac.at/) since 2007, remarks, it is the “starting point for everything that ‘Naked Lunch’ to play as the leading act, and more experiences with them. awareness for the bad data situation regarding racist ZARA does: the trainings are enriched by the experi- than 1,000 sympathizers celebrated ZARA’s jubilee Since 2007, ZARA has been a member of “United incidents not just in Austria but in the entire EU has ence from the counselling center. Without counsel- with a smashing party. A net gain of 10,000 EUR me- for Intercultural Action: European Network Against been raised. ling, there would be no Racism Report, either. Also, ant a substantive contribution indeed in support of Nationalism, Racism, Fascism and in Support of Mig- the idea remains that ZARA is holding up a mirror to the ZARA counselling center. rants and Refugees” (http://www.unitedagainstracism. The transformation of the EUMC into the FRA also was society.” Finally, the experience from the counselling Infortunately the importance of this contribution org/), which is primarily a networking instrument for a an essential motivating factor for ZARA to intensify center also is the starting point for ZARA’s efforts to from civil society became evident all to soon after. large variety of anti-racism organisations. our involvement in RAXEN, in order to pay heed to the achieve changes at the political and social level. Indeed the net gain from the celebration helped to The increasing numbers of cases of racism on the importance of the fight against racist discrimination ease the financial tension, however, in December Internet reported to ZARA prompted the team to look within the concert of all the other fundamental rights. But there is yet another thing that has been there ever 2009 ZARA lacked 15,000 EUR for an even balance. So, out for international partner organisations. With the Currently, the issue of discrimination on grounds since ZARA was founded and accounts for the success even in our jubiliee year, it was once again civil society International Network Against Cyber Hate (INACH, of ethnic belonging and religion is at the center of so far: To the present day, dedicated team members, that lent a helping hand: thanks to the support from http://www.inach.net/), ZARA has found these part- the FRA’s work, and it becomes ever more clear how generous donors, and good ideas contribute to kee- numerous private individuals, who spontaneously de- ners. With their support, we can now handle almost all strongly this issue is interconnected with other issu- ping ZARA alive and developing further. We hope that cided to become supporting members or made dona- these cases in a fast and effective manner. The annual es, like for example migration, asylum, but also data they will continue to do so for some time in the future, tions to ZARA, we could survive this crisis, too. network meetings and conferences serve to further protection. Therefore, since 2008 ZARA has also been Ten years after its founding, ZARA thus exists in because a lot remains to be done, as this Racism Re- develop monitoring as well as pedagogical preventive a member of the FRA’s Fundamental Rights Platform, an unfortunate duality: although our work and our ports illustrates once again. instruments, which are directed primarily at youths. which furthers the exchange of experiences between expertise are met with esteem we do not receive suf- The “European Monitoring Center on Racism and a wide-range of civil society organisations from the EU ficient funding. Sonja Fercher Xenophobia” (EUMC) set up by the EU in Vienna in member states. 1998 was an important partner for ZARA from its founding onwards in the area of increasing the visibi- Barbara Liegl

Unternehmen schenken Zivilcourage

Einzelpersonen und Unternehmen können Patenschaften übernehmen, die es Kindern oder Jugendlichen ermöglichen, ein ZARA-Training zu erhalten.

Mit 700 Euro können Sie einer Kindergruppe/Schulklasse einen halbtätigen ZARA-Workshop ermöglichen.

Info: (01) 929 13 99 • www.zara.or.at • Uni Credit Bank Austria • Kto. 05211362800 • BLZ 12000

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Unternehmen_INS_RZ.indd 1 01.03.2010 13:59:50 Uhr 10 Years – moral courage and anti-racism work · “ZARA holds up a mirror to society” 10 Years – moral courage and anti-racism work · “ZARA holds up a mirror to society”

“ZARA holds up a mirror to society” That was also an enormous trust in advance, and it Which highlights from your time do you still enjoy loo- was something that we could not have imagined to king back to? be possible. For instance things like ZARA:MONIE, that is, crazy An interview with Verena Krausneker on generosity and trust in advance as starting aid for ZARA, highlights of her Then quite soon, the City of Vienna started sup- numbers of people enjoying a ZARA party and at the work and why the Racism Report has always been a low point. porting us, but that has always only covered part of same time making a statement. On the inside, people the costs. Otherwise, it has been private individuals who have been working for ZARA on a voluntary ba- who have always made up for a substantial share of sis for years are highlights. Sometimes the volunteer our financial subsistence. work is done so quietly and with incredible modesty, ZARA’s founding year also was the time when the first ryone is aware of what is meant when the word racism as in the case of Christine Lohwasser. To see what vo- governing coalition of the Austrian People’s Party and is mentioned, and that there is an understanding that What are ZARA’s strengths? What gives you a sense of lunteering can do, and what readiness there is to get the Freedom Party were about to be formed. What role it is a problem. Ten years ago, this was not the case. At achievement? active: there is a drive you never feel in an office where did that play? that time, racism was no issue at all in Austria: Racism? A great achievement was that the Racism Report gai- everybody is employed and leaves in the afternoon. ZARA was not created in reaction to that government. That exists in South Africa, but not here! ned wide attention. That means that there are people And then ZARAistas have been decisively involved Rather, all founding members had been working at who are ready to look at what we have to say. After in shaping anti-racism legislation and pushing further the anti-racism hotline of Helping Hands and had Turning to the ideals you strived for in the beginning: a couple of years, international organisations started developments. Also at the legal level, something has experienced throughout that year the great need for Would you have thought that ZARA would become to get back to ZARA as an information ressource. That changed in Austria – and this is no highlight, but its of the counselling of victims and witnesses of racism. We what it now is? shows us that we are taken seriously, also outside of long term significance. wanted to see to it that this service continued to exist The core idea, and the idea we started out with, has Austria. after Helping Hands was closed down. been clearly maintained; that is, to be a place for This interview was conducted by René Rusch. In the end however, the right-wing coalition cer- victims and witnesses of racism to turn to. I find it re- What were the lows? tainly did play a role. In February 2000, there was ally remarkable that we stayed quite true to that ob- It is a low when there is a matter of life and death, Dr. Verena Krausneker is a much greater readiness to make an effort for the jective. Some other objectives have been added, there based on racist motivation. This incident in Munich is a linguist and was among “other” Austria than the year before. I believe that the is the very important work of raising awareness via the not directly related to ZARA, but it is a good example ZARA’s founding members. people who carried ZARA through its first years also trainings, there is also the further education program to show what I mean. There was a man in Munich last For many years, she was drew part of their motivation from the energy that ori- in moral courage and racism, that is, the attempt to year, who showed moral courage and was beaten to a board member, head of ginated from there, because they said to themselves: intervene even before a racist incident occurs. death by youngsters. When that much violence is in- ZARA public relations and I am taking some concrete steps, namely with ZARA, But counselling still is the starting point for eve- volved, you ask yourself what is going wrong. editor in chief of the Racism and that also is a voice against that government. rything ZARA does. The trainings are enriched by the We have such high ideals, and then something of Report. Finally she worked experiences from the counselling center. Without the Omofuma category happens: then you suddenly in the ZARA-trainer pool, Who are the opponents in the fight against racism, is it counselling, there wouldn’t be a Racism Report, eit- feel helpless, that was and remains a low. which she left at the end of the Freedom Party? her. Another low for me has always been the Racism the year 2008. No, not at all. The opponent is racism as a phenome- Also, the idea has been maintained that ZARA holds Report, or the task to pick the cases for publication non. That has long been ignored as constituting a pro- a mirror up to society, and that this is not done by tho- from the enormous numbers documented by us. That René Rusch is a political scientist and works as a graphic blem. Then there are individuals who propagate racist se directly affected, who already are under pressure meant for me that I had to read each and every one, artist and film director with the Austrian Broadcasting ideologies or act in racist ways. The people voicing anyway, but by an NGO. understand it, comprehend it, and make a selection. Corporation’s Vienna studio. Furthermore, he has been racism are not followers of the Freedom Party in parti- This full load, over and over again every year, that is active as a volunteer at ZARA for years and has been a cular, but completely average people. In the beginning, money certainly was a problem. Was really hard to bare. member of the ZARA trainer pool since 2009. But there are parties that use this in order to maxi- there a crucial moment regarding finances would you mize their vote, there are media that use this in order say: because so and so helped us, or because we got to increase their circulation … that money, the idea could be put into practice? Generosity was an essential initial aid. Several things So your windmill was this diffuse fog in which racism come to my mind there. First, SOS Mitmensch cleared appears? out a junk-room and said: there you are, do whatever It is not that diffuse after all. It is a social phenomenon, you like. This is an advance on trust that is incredible. a phenomenon of society. There is a racist ideology, And it is of course of elementary importance to have and then there are people who act racist. a room with a telephone line if you want to do coun- selling. ZARA turned ten years old in autumn. You were a Then there were people who gave us office equip- founding member, seen in retrospect: was it any use, ment, like paper, pencils, etc., for instance someone and most importantly, what was it good for? from a company gave as a bag full of stuff. Then my Of course, the fact that several thousand victims and mother gave as a substantive donation, I believe it witnesses of racism have somewhere to turn to, a was around 10,000 Schillings, saying: “That is a good place where they get free legal advice. I once was ap- idea, you are sure going to do something good with proached by a woman at a conference, who had tur- that money.” ned to ZARA years before and received counselling. The third true starting aid was that a married coup- She told me then how incredibly important that had le heard us discussing the issue of the Racism Report, been to her. It is this kind of feedback that shows you and then said: “Yes, we are going to finance that for the success, if that’s what you want to call it. you.” Those were Christian and Ingrid Reder, who co- What has been extremely good is that by now eve- vered the printing costs of the first Racism Report.

54 55 10 Years – moral courage and anti-racism work · “One day I just had enough” 10 Years – moral courage and anti-racism work · “One day I just had enoug"

“One day I just had enough” Private collections of donations tributed by the company Merchzilla, whereas the gain goes to ZARA. Most recently, another t-shirt was ad- However, it is not only through events like these that ded: In a private initiative, Christian Jordan and Karina volunteers or civil society representatives support 8See “Baumeister mit Volunteers are an important pillar of ZARA’s work. So are people who approach us in order to propose joint pro- Neuhofer produced t-shirts printed with the slogan antirassistischer Ambition”: ZARA. Countless numbers of people across the years “Ich bin Ausländer/in – fast überall” (“I am a foreigner http://derstandard.at/ jects or initiatives or to get active for ZARA in a great variety of ways. have contacted ZARA because they wanted to hold 2701407 – almost everywhere”). In December 2009, they ap- smaller or larger fund raising events or simply collect proached ZARA to put the campaign at our disposal. 9 See http://www.zara. donations at a birthday party. or.at/index.php/trainings/ Unlike the mixer t-shirts, these t-shirts are sold directly referenzen/8ung-fur-alle; In spring 2009, two teachers at the graphic arts Cornelia Schweiner (2008) Volunteers are an important pillar of ZARA’s work. So Interpreter Joelle Thomas organised the auction “Gold at ZARA’s. Also in this case, the net gain goes to the school in Vienna, Giovanni Corsaro and Werner Gre- “Respect for All”, in: Racism are people who approach us in order to propose joint against Racism” to the benefit of ZARA and tirelessly counselling center. Report 2007, p. 72 gori, approached ZARA with their wish to participate projects or initiatives or to get active for ZARA in a promoted the idea among juwellers to motivate them Most importantly, it is the volunteers who are a with their students in a billboard poster competition. great variety of ways. to donate pieces of jewellery. Young artists also contri- great support in the daily work by through their len- The competition was launched by paper company For a month, he had been driving by a little house buted pieces. In the end, numerous renowned juwel- ding a hand to the counselling center, the coordinati- Sappi and awarded prizes to campaigns for NGOs de- that was smeared with NS-symbols and slogans. But lers and jewellery artist were onboard, and celebrities on of trainings and public relations. Furthermore, it is signed by graphic artists or students. Two campaigns one day he just had enough and decided to do so- from Erwin Wurm to Elfriede Jelinek joined the pro- only with their support that we are in a position to be won the race and students Claude Assel and Claude mething. Together with his best friend, Alexander ponents’ committee. In autumn 2007, jewellery worth present with information stalls at numerous events, so Slama thereby brought ZARA a 2,000 EUR donation Baumann took matters into his own hand and pain- 10,000 EUR was sold by auction at Dorotheum to the to present our work, and also gain new supporters. Vo- from Sappi. That donated amount made it possible ted over the smearings. A builder by trade, he decided benefit of ZARA. lunteers are not only present at the events, long-term for us to realize one of the two campaigns in public to offer ZARA to paint over reported smearings. Thus volunteer Irene Krenn also takes care of organising space. the “smearings ward” came into existence in 2006 Elfriede Jelinek’s thoughts on moral everything surrounding the information desks. Also Also, we have repeatedly been provided with pro- (http://www.beschmierungsambulanz.at), and it is still courage on a voluntary basis, Christine Lohwasser organised ducts to sell, with the net gain from sales being used in service today.8 regular get-togethers for volunteers, to better invol- to finance the counselling center. Thus, the hip-hop Like Alexander Baumann’s story, many stories can It was not the first time for Jelinek to be actively sup- ve them and give them an opportunity for exchange posse Tres Monos provided the song “Seibane” in me- be told of people wanting to do something against porting ZARA: In the framework of the campaign with other sympathizers. racism and for ZARA. And most often, the stories start “Companies Give Moral Courage”, companies can fi- mory of Seibane W., who died in the course of a police and ambulance operation in the Vienna Stadtpark. It with somebody “dropping by” at the ZARA office, in nance moral courage trainings at schools, Jelinek wro- All these stories symbolize the motivation of people is sold at the ZARA shop to the benefit of ZARA, where today’s world of course this also means appointments te down her thoughts on moral courage on a ZARA who are active with ZARA: They have an idea, do not also the book “Gestürmte Festung Europa” by Corinna arranged on the phone or the Internet, not necessarily poster that pupils received as a token of memory. want to put up with racism, want to support ZARA – Milborn, the CD “Derwisch erzählt” or the DVD “Opera- literally coming into the office. In 2002, it was actor Alexander Pschill – known to with enormous efforts and insistence they make their tion Spring” are available. One day a young moviemaker, Jochen Graf, drop- a wide audience from his part as leading character in ideas come true in practice, even if often they do not ped by because he wanted to treat the issue of moral the TV-series “Kommissar Rex”– who dropped by to ZARA t-shirts even receive payment for their work. This holds true of courage in the framework of his diploma piece. He offer to serve as ZARA’s spokesperson and leave his the founders as well as of the many people who have therefore produced three commercials by the title “3 x mark against racism. At the ZARA donations shop, we do as our namesakes worked for ZARA or been active with ZARA in various 45 seconds of moral courage”. The spots have received of the Spanish fashion company, and sell t-shirts. The ways in the past ten years. Heartfelt thanks for all the multiple awards, for example, they were nominated Brunching against racism graphic artists of Supermacht, Elisabeth Golackner effort – and we hope that lots of people continue to for the much-coveted shortlist of the Cannes Lions and Sabine Brauner, designed a t-shirt showing a mi- drop by in the future! International Advertising Festival. They still constitute Some initiatives were launched by ZARA itself or vo- lunteer team members. At the beginning of the year xer and the slogan “Ich misch mich ein” (literally: “I mix an important means of public relations for ZARA and myself in”, meaning: “I interfere”). The t-shirts are dis- Sonja Fercher the issues we want to promote (http://www.filmpro- 2008, Pia Ettenauer and Xiao Lin Zhang initiated duktion.org/zaraspots/). “Brunching against racism”. Thus, people opposed to racism and sympathizing with ZARA should be given the opportunity to get together in an easy atmosphe- Tireless efforts for Respect for All re to discuss the serious topic of racism and contribute It was also in the framework of a master’s to anti-racism work. Altogether, the brunchers raised thesis that Cornelia Schweiner develo- around 2,000 EUR to the benefit of the ZARA counsel- ped the project “8ung für alle/Respect ling center for victims and witnesses of racism. for All”, in which the district of Feldbach At the fund raising events ZARA:MONIE parties as should dedicate a week to addressing di- well as at the 10-year-celebration, volunteers once versity and anti-discrimination – which it inde- again made an active contribution to the success of ed did at the end of February / beginning of March these events, be it during the preparations or the par- 2007, thanks to Schweiner’s tireless efforts9. What was ty itself. Christine Lohwasser worked as a volunteer at unique: The entire population of Feldbach participa- the first ZARA:MONIE, until she took on the organisa- ted in this project in one way or another, from priest tion of the clubbing together with Lioba Suchenwirt to members of the police force, from kindergarten pe- in 2008. Anna Müller-Funk and Bianca Weber were an dagogues to business people, Muslim youths to the important support as volunteers in the organisation youth organisations of political parties. In all, about of the 10-year-celebration. Graphic artists like Sebas- 10.000 Feldbachers participated actively in one of the tian Menschhorn, Sibylle Gieselmann, Sabell Fabian 82 events, i.e. almost one in seven inhabitants of this provided their labor and creativity for free in the pro- district of Styria. motion of the events. megaphone with a text by Elfriede Jelinek Alexander Pschill, spokesperson of ZARA brunching against racism

56 57 10 Years – moral courage and anti-racism work · Numbers, numbers, numbers? Some background information to the racism report 10 Years – moral courage and anti-racism work · Numbers, numbers, numbers? Some background information to the racism report

13 fight discrimination. As a consequence, the propor- parties take ZARA seriously as an organisation, and See Racism Report 2008, Numbers, numbers, numbers? “What has become of…?” in tion of those wanting to take legal steps against the we mostly receive replies within the requested time chapter “Goods and servi- 10 ces”, case 96 Racism Report Some background information to the racism report discrimination they suffered has increased. frame. 2007, pp. 58 f The counselling center’s legal team have effectu- 14 See Racism Report 2008, ated legal consequences for racist discrimination re- “… does not contact ZARA again.”: Unfortunately this “What has become of...? aching up to compensation payments in a number is the ending of many cases in the Racism Report. Case 82 Racism Report 2007”, p. 58; http://www. of cases. About 30 cases were brought before the ➞ Almost every other directly affected person gets in klagsverband.at/archi- ves/1640; http://www.klags- Equal Treatment Commission, about two thirds of touch with ZARA only once, in order to report the case verband.at/kommentare/ 10 This article is based in part “Has racism gone up or down?”: This is the question fected turn to ZARA less frequently. It takes courage them successfully. In most of these cases, ZARA’s cli- and get information about possible interventions. It is kein-verkauf-an-auslaenderin on the paper Barbara Liegl/ Sonja Fercher (2010), “Zehn ZARA is asked over and over again, and of course, to talk about one’s own experience of discrimination ents were denied entry or service in bars and restau- not possible to give an estimate of how often these 15 Austria/Federal Chancel- Jahre Anti-Rassismus-Arbeit lery (2007) CERD, 15.-17. – Vergebene Chancen oder one cannot help but ask it, in particular in the face of and it brings about quite a number of considerations rants or shops. That was often accompanied by slan- clients take further steps on their own, whether they Country Report Austria, doch zwei Schritte vorwärts ZARA’s tenth anniversary and the publication of the to be made beforehand: Does what I experienced or der, and sometimes even physical attacks. leave matters at a report to ZARA, and why. Neverthe- http://www.bka.gv.at/Doc- und einer zurück?”, in: SWS- View.axd?CobId=31500 Rundschau, issue 1/2010, tenth Racism Report. witnessed indeed constitute as discrimination? Do Procedures before the Equal Treatment Commis- less, also these once-only reports are important, be- pp. 127 - 143 But over and over again, ZARA must reply with the I have to fear sanctions if I report the incident? Do I sion are rather informal, the discrimination is either cause they enter ZARA’s documentation and thus do 16 E.g., European Union unwieldy statement: The data collected by ZARA is have a sufficient number of persons in my sphere who attested or not. If discrimination is attested, the discri- not remain in obscurity. Agency for Fundamental Rights, Annual Report 2009, 11 see Barbara Liegl (2007) http://www.fra.europa.eu/ “How much racism would not a representative picture of racist incidents in Aus- are going to support me? What is the general attitude minating party receives a recommendation on how to Documentation and thus the Racism Report are fraWebsite/attachments/FRA- you like?”, in: Racism Report tria, as ZARA does no active independent monitoring. towards racism like? What chances do I see to realize repair the damage that has been done or on how to important instruments for ZARA in the formulation of AnnualReport09_en.pdf 2007, pp. 11f Rather, the Racism Report is based on the incidents my rights? What do I expect from a report to ZARA? realize the principle of equal treatment in the future13. challenges in the fight against racism, because areas 12 European Union Agency reported to the counselling center during the respec- A survey by the European Fundamental Rights can be identified where certain forms of discrimina- 17 European Commission for Fundamental Rights 12 against Racism and Intole- (2009), “EU-MIDIS at a tive year of observation. It only can be assumed that Agency brought to light shocking reasons for the For many clients, the finding by the Equal Treatment tion occur more frequently. Furthermore, the Racism rance (2005), Third report on glance: Introduction to the these cases are no more than the tip of the iceberg non-reporting of discriminatory incidents: 84 per cent Commission is significant for the reason that a pub- Report is a crucial instrument for making the effects Austria. Strasbourg, http:// FRA’s EU-wide discrimina- hudoc.ecri.coe.int/XMLEcri/ tion survey”, p. 9, http://fra. 11 made visible. of Turks interviewed in Austria, as well as 82 per cent lic body attests that discrimination indeed occurred. and consequences of racist structures visible and for ENGLISH/Cycle_03/03_CbC_ europa.eu/fraWebsite/attach- eng/AUT-CbC-III-2005-1- ments/EU-MIDIS_GLANCE_ But even if the data published in the Racism Report of migrants from the former Yugoslavia interviewed, Many leave it at that and do not proceed to take the sensitizing the public to that. ENG.pdf EN.pdf and “EU Midis: Main is not suitable for drawing conclusions on the number did not know of any organisation that would provi- case to court. This step would still be possible; how- Meanwhile, the Racism Report is used in education Results Report”, pp. 205 und 228, http://fra.europa. of racist assaults actually occurring in Austria, the data de them with support in such a case. Further reasons ever, the court is not bound by the opinion of the by pedagogues and other multipliers, sometimes ser- 18 Bureau of Democracy, eu/fraWebsite/eu-midis/ Human Rights, and Labor eumidis_main_results_re- still is of central importance to ZARA’s work. But it is voiced by both surveyed groups were that such expe- Equal Treatment Commission. It only is bound to give ves politicians as a source of information, and is quo- (2009), 2008 Human Rights port_en.htm not so much the numbers which are significant; rather riences were too trivial and happened all the time and reasons in case it should deviate from the Equal Treat- ted in academic publications. Furthermore, with the Report: Austria, http:// www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/ it is the qualitative dimension which is: The Report that they were concerned of negative consequences. ment Commission’s approach. Racism Report ZARA makes an essential contribution hrrpt/2008/eur/119067.htm proves the existence of racism as a phenomenon of Witnesses report racist slander, which they obser- The step of going to court has been taken by only a to the presentation of anti-racism work in Austria. The society as a whole, which surfaces in all areas of life ved, for example in public transport, at the checkout handful of clients during the past ten years. One of the Republic of Austria refers to it in country reports in and has a structural dimension. at the supermarket, or in the park. They point out reasons why this happens only rarely lies in the risk of relation to discrimination15. Furthermore, it serves as discriminatory job adverts or send us photos of racist having to bear the legal costs if the case is lost. The a data source to European institutions like the Euro- During the first ten years of ZARA’s existence, we do- smearings on houses or in public transport. Witnesses cases that were taken to court were supported by the pean Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)16 or cumented and dealt with almost 7,300 racist incidents. tell us of police actions where they perceived racist Chamber of Labour or the ➞ Litigation Association, the European Commission against Racism and Intole- They ranged from racist incidents against which legal slander, or of landlords who do not want to rent out every single one ended positively for our clients, alt- rance (ECRI)17 and also the US State Department uses steps were possible to cases that, although legal steps their appartment to new tenants of foreign origin or hough the full amount of damages that was claimed it as a source for its annual human rights report18 on were not possible, nevertheless were categorized as black skin. was not always awarded. Similar to the proceedings Austria. racist by civil society. Examples of the latter catego- People directly affected turn to ZARA because they before the Equal Treatment Commission, the court ca- ry are election posters of the Freedom Party with the are denied acces to shops or bars and restaurants, and ses regarded the denial of service or discrimination in However, the available data still is not at all sufficiently claim “Pummerin statt Muezzin” (Pummerin instead of this is obviously connected to their (often only impu- access to jobs14. perceived as a call to take relevant political measures. Muezzin, Pummerin being the name the big bell of the ted) ethnic belonging or skin color. They want coun- However, legal steps are not always possible. A On the whole, from ZARA’s perspective there have St. Stephen’s cathedral) or those of the Future Alliance selling in cases ranging from racist slander to physical very small part of cases ZARA is approached with hardly been any changes, not in the least because the- Austria (BZÖ) with the Slogan “Wir säubern Graz” (We attacks in public space. Affected persons tell us of em- concerns once-only dsicrimination experiences with re is neither a clear consensus in society that racism are clean(s)ing Graz) or advertising campaigns like “I ployers who, on grounds of their headscarf or black a concrete party. In these cases the people affected must be rejected, nor have politicians resolved to take will Mohr” (toying with the homophony of German skin color, do not want to let them work in service, be- by the discrimination mostly wish for an apology by a clear stance against racism and take adequate mea- “Mohr” for “moor” and the English word “more”) by the cause customers allegedly would not want that. They the perpetrator, and if that is made, it can be coun- sures to prevent racism. Indeed, the National Action company Unilever, which contribute to the stereoty- report of police officers who were called to a racist ted as a success – also for the reason that this raises Plan for Integration does contain generally phrased pical representation of various groups. incident, yet did not take care of the victim, but rather awareness: Perpetrators are informed in which regard measures against discrimination in different areas of Who are the people turning to ZARA, and what ca- of the perpetrator, because the affected person was their behaviour was perceived as discriminatory, and, life; however, the Action Plan does not spell out con- ses are they approaching the counselling center with? “black” and the perpetrator “white”, or who verbally if so, which legal provisions they violated and which crete measures or specify a budget. Over the past ten years, between almost half and the abused them in racist ways. consequences their actions have for the affected per- But also in political debate, only little has changed vast majority of cases which were brought to the at- All these are examples of individual cases pub- son and for themselves. At the same time, the other over the past ten years: racist remarks remain without tention of ZARA by witnesses, between 20 and 50 per- lished in the Racism Report for ten years now, and party receives the opportunity to communicate their sanction, discussions on asylum seekers and integra- cent came from people directly affected. Witnesses the conclusion is that the patterns of every day ra- perspective. tion still show racist traits, and the issue of migration mostly are members of the majority society, which on cist discrimination has not undergone a significant Making contact with perpetrators is an important is abused not only by rightwing parties to stir up sen- the one hand is positive, because parts of the majority change over the past decade. component of the counselling center’s work. When timents in the population. Most crucially is, the failure society has developed increased awareness of racism In contrast, what indeed has changed is the legal ZARA began to approach those alleged of discrimi- to acknowledge that Austria is a country of immigrati- and racist discrimination in the past few years. On the framework. The 2004 amendment to the Equal Treat- nation with letters, e-mails and phone calls, at first on which leads to social diversity and is an opportuni- other hand the question arises why people directly af- ment Act broadened the range of legal possibilites to we hardly ever got a reply. Meanwhile, the respective ty rather than a problem.

58 59 10 Years – moral courage and anti-racism work · Claims 10 Years – moral courage and anti-racism work · Claims

created state secretariate for equal opportunities. The 19 European Union Agency In the face of the highly limited resources that are not and measures for fighting it, joint efforts of anti-racist Helping Hands Graz, the ZARA counselling center is for Fundamental Rights going to improve in either short or mid-term, ZARA organisations of the state, civil society and self-repre- entire range of politicians in Austria must actually be the only place where victims and witnesses of racism (2009), “EU-Midis”, http://fra. europa.eu/fraWebsite/eu- has to be content with the statement: Without the senation organisations are needed. ZARA will conti- involved in integration efforts. receive free legal counselling on what they can do midis/index_en.htm; “Special Eurobarometer 317: Racism Report, the extent of racism in Austria would nue to be active and hopes for support therein from against discrimination. Only the City of Vienna provi- Discrimination in the EU in be completely in the dark, the Racism Report at least the readers of this Racism Report. • Investments in the area of education des ZARA with financial support, which unfortunately 2009”, http://ec.europa.eu/ public_opinion/archives/ebs/ brings some light into that darkness. In order to achie- As the experience from ZARA workshops shows, young only suffices for half a year’s operation. ZARA therefo- ebs_317_en.pdf ve social changes that would manifest themselves in Sonja Fercher, Barbara Liegl people in particular have the easiest time in learning re demands sufficient financial guarantees to guaran- a new quality of approaches to racist discrimination a positive approach to dealing with cultural diversity. tee operation and reduce pressure on the counselling Therefore ZARA demands investments in the area of center team. education in order to sensitize pedagogues and pu- pils of all types of schools for the issues of diversity, • Fighting against structural discrimination non-discrimination and equality of opportunities. In order to fight racism effectively, more than the coun- selling of victims is needed. The make-up of social, po- Claims • Information offensive litical, economic and cultural structures of society can In 2009, several studies carried out in the entire EU lead to the reenforcement of social power asymmet- “10 years ZARA – moral courage and anti-racism work” were published which showed that far too few peo- ries and to the exclusion of people with a background ple in Austria know about their rights in the event of in migration, among others, from participation. These discrimination19. Therefore ZARA demands measures structural discriminations must be made visible and ZARA demands a clear commitment to effective anti-racism and anti-discrimination policies and relevant respective to inform citizens of their rights. strategies for fighting them must be developed. measures from every indivdual carrying political responsibilites! From ZARA’s point of view, this should include the Furthermore, the actual extent of racism in Austria following 10 points: is hard to quantify because of the scarcity of data sour- • Public institutions ces. Therefore ZARA demands the collection of socio- It is an essential responsibility of public institutions demographic data and the support of research on the in a democratic state under the rule of law to guard • Drafting and putting into practice a National Action demands a comprehensive anti-discrimination law extent and effects of racist discrimination in order to impartiality and guarantee fairness and legal certain- Plan against Racism package. be able to develop effective measures to counter it. ty. There must not be any room for discrimination in Since 2001, Austria has been delayed with working either the police, the justice system, or in public ad- out a National Action Plan against Racism. Currently • Extending the protection against incitement to • Sufficient financial guarantees for the ZARA coun­ ministration. ZARA therefore demands that these bo- it seems that it is going to “fall victim” to the National hatred under section 283 Criminal Code selling center that guarantee continued operation dies occupy themselves intensively with the issues of Action Plan on Integration. For ZARA, this is comple- ZARA demands an upgrade of the protection against The fact that the only organisation for victims and racism and structural discrimination. Any racist discri- tely unsatisfactory. Indeed, the efficient fight against incitement to hatred insofar as it should not only be witnesses of racism is notoriously underfunded is in- mination in these areas, is not only hurtful for the per- discrimination on the grounds of ethnic belonging “public order” that is considered worth protecting. dicative of the lack of seriousness in the claims that sons affected, it also damages the individuals trust in and religion has found its way into the National Ac- Rather, primarily the guarding of human dignity discrimination is not tolerated in this country. Besides the rule of law. tion Plan on Integration presented in January 2010. should become protected by criminal law. The defi- However, ZARA urges the government to guarantee nition of the offence must be simplified, and further the funding of the listed measures. forms of generalized degrading of individuals should At the same time, ZARA upholds its demand for be punishable, such that courts can prosecute hate a National Action Plan against Racism, as working speech and smearings liable to incite hatred. out this plan would make an important contribution Furthermore, people who are subjected to incite- to raising awareness for the significance of the fight ment to hatred because of their relatives, colleagues against discrimination. or friends e.g. belonging to a specific ethnic group should also be protected against incitement to hat- • Ratification of Protocol No. 12 ECHR red. The provision against incitement to hatred must The 12th additional Protocol to the European Conven- also be adapted to the reality of the discourse in Aust- tion on Human Rights (ECHR) has been signed by Aus- ria, where hatred is often stoked up against “migrants”, tria, but not ratified. Art 1 of the Protocol stipulates a “foreigners” or “asylum seekers” as a group. prohibition of discrimination in the enjoyment of any right set forth by law. Furthermore, the Protocol ext- • Fundamental turn in integration policies ends the competences of the European Court of Hu- Currently, debates on integration are based on an man Rights and concretely spells out the human rights unrealistic polarization between “the Austrians” and obligations regarding the protection against discrimi- “the foreigners”. This fuels prejudice. ZARA therefore nation. Austria must finally ratify this protocol! demands a fundamental turn in integration policies. They must aim at achieving equal opportunities for • A comprehensive anti-discrimination law package all, rather than at compensating for alleged deficits of The Equal Treatment Act passed in 2004 is a good migrants. Also, integration is an issue that cuts across basis to start from, however, as the work of the ZARA the board and must be included in the considerations counselling center for victims and witnesses of racism of each and every ministry. ZARA therefore demands shows, in many cases there still is a lack of effective le- that integration issues be moved from the compe- gal remedies against discrimination. Therefore, ZARA tence of the Ministry of the Interior into a newly

60 61 Ins Beratungszentrum_2010_219x297+3 SW 01.02.10 09:37 Seite 1

Kopfzeile Glossary

➞ Glossary In alphabetical order

➞ alleviation of the burden of proof / reversal of of the Republic of Austria, the City of Vienna and the the burden of proof Association Verein Dokumentationsarchiv. It is an aca- As in any other proceeding, ultimately it is a question demic research institution concerned with, among of evidence and credibility with which the party will others, the issues of resistance during the time of be pronounced to be in the right by a court or public National-Socialism, NS-crime, the Holocaust, restituti- authority. Yet, especially in the area of employment on and right-wing extremism after 1945. The staff of and all the more in the area of discrimination, the situ- the DÖW collect current cases of right-wing extremist ation is often characterised by an uneven distribution assault, analyse them and inform of developments re- of power. Typically, the employee is in a weaker po- garding right-wing extremist activities in Austria via sition regarding economic strength as well as in the various media and publications. “closeness to the evidence”. These circumstances are taken into account in labor law as well as in the frame- ➞ Equal Treatment Commission work of equal treatment legislation. The Equal Treatment Commission (http://www.frauen. According to European guidelines there should be bka.gv.at/site/5467/default.aspx) is composed of three a clear shift in the burden of proof into the direction of Senates with members representing Ministries and the respondent/defendant, who should have to bring social partner organisations. They work on an hono- proof in order to free him-/herself from plausible rep- rary basis. The Commission is attached to the Fede- roaches raised against him/her. In Austria, this requi- ral Chancellery. The Senates of the Equal Treatment rement has not been completely and fully met in eve- Commission have to deal with all questions related ry respect, such that a very complicated and not very to discrimination within their area of competence. In practical solution is in place. Thus, procedures have to particular, they are responsible for drafting opinions be instigated if the complainant/claimant plausibly on general questions relating to discriminations, and presents the case for discrimination; procedures have they have to assess potential violations of the provisi- to be closed if the defendant proves that “it is probab- on of equal treatment in specific cases upon demand le, considering all the circumstances, that it was ano- from the affected person, by the Office of the Ombud ther motif – made plausible by the defendant – that for Equal Treatment or by interest groups. Both the was decisive for the differential treatment”. Ombud for Equal Treatment and the victim are party to these procedures, which are free of charge. Victims ➞ direct discrimination can also choose to be represented by a trusted person, Under section 19 paragraph 1 of the Equal Treatment for example representatives of non-governmental or- Act, direct discrimination is taken to occur where a ganisations like ZARA. The result of such proceedings person, on the grounds of a specific characteristic before the Equal Treatment Commission is an opinion, (e.g., skin color, ethnic origin, a disability, or gender, which, in contrast to the judgment of a court, is not Alles rund um Beruf und Weiterbildung etc.) is treated less favourably than another person is, legally binding. has been or would be treated in a comparable situa- Wir beraten Sie. Kostenlos. tion. ➞ ethnic Profiling According to the Open Society Justice Initiative (http:// ➞ district administration authority www.soros.org/initiatives/justice) „ethnic profiling“ by Das waff Beratungszentrum für Beruf und Weiterbildung begleitet Sie, In general, the district administration authority is in- the police or law enforcement officers takes place stantiated by the district commissions (Bezirkshaupt- if they see people as suspects of a criminal offence wenn Sie sich beruflich weiterentwickeln wollen. mannschaften), or, the “Magistrat”. In statutory towns based on generalizing criteria such as ethnic belon- like Vienna, the individual municipal district offices ging, skin color, religion and/or national origin, rather Infos, Coaching, Bildungsberatung und Fördermöglichkeiten. Alles aus (Magistratische Beziksämter) carry out that task. Some than because of what that individuals they deal with einer Hand und kostenfrei. functions of the district administration authorities have actually done. are also exercised by the Federal Police Directorates Speziell für neu Zugewanderte: Anerkennungs- und Weiterbildungsberatung (Bundespolizeidirektionen), insofar as the situation in ➞ Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitu- question is within their regional competence. Gene- tion and the Fight Against Terrorism und muttersprachliche Berufs-Erstinformation. rally, the district administration authorities are com- The Federal Office for the Protection of the Consti- Einfach anrufen und Beratungstermin vereinbaren: 217 48 – 555 petent for prosecuting administrative offences in the tution and the Fight Against Terrorism (Bundesamt first instance. für Verfassungsschutz und Terrorismusbekämpfung, BVT) is a security authority located within the Fede- ➞ Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance ral Ministry of the Interior. Among other things, it is The Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance tasked with the fight against extremist and terrorist (Dokumentationsarchiv des österreichischen Wider- phenomena. The federal office, as well as the corres- standes, DÖW, http://www.doew.at) is a foundation ponding offices in the federal provinces under its au-

www.waff.at 62 63 Glossary Glossary

thority, therefore monitor the activities of right-wing with other persons unless that provision, criterion or Treatment includes not only the Ombud for Equal extremists in Austria and investigate violations of the practice is objectively justified by a legitimate aim and Treatment of Men and Women in Employment, but Prohibition Statute through activities amounting to the means of achieving that aim are appropriate and also the Ombud for Equal Treatment Irrespective of revitalisation of National-Socialist ideology. necessary. Ethnic Belonging, Religion or Belief, Age, or Sexual Orientation in Employment and the Ombud for the ➞ Forum Against Antisemitism ➞ Introductory Act to the Adminstrative area of racist discrimination in other areas (http:// The Forum Against Antisemitism (Forum gegen Anti- Procedure Acts www.gleichbehandlungsanwaltschaft.at/). The Office semitismus, http://www.fga-wien.at) is an association The Introductory Act to the Administrative Proce- of the Ombud for Equal Treatment is responsible for based in Vienna. It documents antisemitic assault, of- dure Acts (Einführungsgesetz zu den Verwaltungs- counselling people affected by discrimination, and fers counselling to victims of such assault, and makes verfahrensgesetzen, EGVG) in its Article III stipulates in addition, research regarding the discrimination public information regarding antisemitism in Austria. an administrative penal provision prohibiting racist situation in Austria can be commissioned or carried discrimination, for example, in acces to bars and re- out by the Office. Cases brought to the Office of the ➞ guidelines complaint staurants, public places, or housing advertisements. Ombud for Equal Treatment can be brought before The guidelines complaint (Richtlinienbeschwerde) is Administrative fines of up to 1,090 EUR can be pro- the Equal Treatment Commission by the Ombud for one possibility for having the ➞ Independent Admi- nounced. Complaints regarding relevant acts can be assessment. nistrative Tribunal assess police conduct. The assess- filed with the district commission or in Vienna with ment is guided by the regulations laid down in the the municipality. ➞ Offices of the Federal Provinces for the Protec­ Guidelines Decree (Richtlinienverordnung), which, tion of the Constitution and the Fight Against among other things, oblige officers to carry out their ➞ Litigation Association (Klagsverband) Terrorism duties in a manner free of discrimination, to disclose The Litigation Association of NGOs Against Discrimi- See „Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitu­ their official ID number, and to address people using nation (Klagsverband zur Durchsetzung der Rechte tion and the Fight Against Terrorism“ the polite form of address, „Sie“ (plural you). von Diskriminierungsopfern, KlaV – http:www.klags- In the course of a complaint, a meeting can be verband. at) was founded in 2004 as an umbrella or- ➞ out of court settlement arranged where the complainant ideally can have ganisation of NGOs already active in the fight against (Diversion und Außergerichtlicher Tatausgleich) an open discussion of the incident with the involved discrimination and in counselling victims of discrimi- In German, “Diversion” describes the possibility to wa- officials, with the aim of the complaint being settled nation. Today, the Litigation Association has a number ive formal criminal court proceedings. After measures and no charges being brought (“Klaglosstellungsge- of members concerned with various areas of discri- “of diversion” have been completed, which can only spräch”). mination. The Litigation Association chiefly acts as a be done with the consent of the suspect(s), criminal counselling body for its member-NGOs and their cli- procedures are closed for good and the person in ➞ harassment ents, and participate in procedures before the Equal question continues with the status of having no crimi- Harassment constitutes a form of discrimination whe- Treatment Commission acting as an expert with an nal record. “Diversion” involves out-of-court compen- never a person is harassed on the grounds of one or advisory vote. Section 62 of the Equal Treatment Act sation for the act (Außergerichtlicher Tatausgleich), several specific characteristics of that person or ascri- gives the Litigation Association the right to participa- defining a time of probation, carrying out community bed to that person by others (like skin color, religion, te in court proceedings as an intervener next to the service or the payment of a certain amount of money gender, or sexual orientation) and the harassment as plaintiff. Thus the Litigation Association accompanies by the suspect. The out-of-court compensation (ATA) such violates his/her dignity. victims of direct and indirect discrimination in court is carried out by the association Neustart, where social procedures. workers have the task of reaching a settlement bet- ➞ Independent Administrative Tribunal ween victim and perpetrator by mediating between The Independent Administrative Tribunals (Unabhän- ➞ measures complaint them. This can also include making up for the damage giger Verwaltungssenat, UVS) of the federal provin- The measures complaint (Maßnahmenbeschwerde) that has been done and a written agreement on fu- ces are competent, among other things, for appeals is a legal remedy against unlawful police conduct. ture relations (between victim and perpetrator). The against penal findings in case of violations of admi- The complaint may be filed with the Independent person who suffered the damage also has to agree in nistrative law and for complaints against acts of im- Administrative Tribunal inside of six weeks following writing to the out-of-court compensation. mediate powers of coercion (UVS complaints against the event. The Tribunal holds a public procedure and police officers). The UVS are public authorities that are decides whether or not the purported unlawfulness ➞ third country nationals not bound by instructions from higher levels of public is given. The term „third country nationals” refers to citizens administration. The decisions are made by indepen- of states not party to the Agreement creating the Eu- dent UVS judges. Their decisions are final and binding. ➞ Office for Special Investigations Vienna ropean Economic Area (EEA). The EEA includes all EU However, extra-ordinary legal remedies permit ap- The Office for Special Investigations (Büro für beson- member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Nor- peals to the highest courts (Administrative Court and dere Ermittlungen, BBE) is a unit within the Vienna way. Constitutional Courts). police directly under the authority of the President of the Vienna Police. It is competent for investigating ➞ victimisation ➞ indirect discrimination allegations of police ill treatment. It must examine su- Victimisation refers to adverse treatment of persons According to section 19 pargraph 2 of the Equal Treat- spected cases within 24 hours and forward them to involved in a case of discrimination, as victim or wit- ment Act, indirect discrimination is taken to occur the Public Prosecution. ness, insofar as they disclosed the case, filed a comp- where an apparently neutral provision, criterion or laint, or spoke out in support of the victim. practice can put persons with specific characteristics ➞ Office of the Ombud for Equal Treatment (like e.g. skin color, disabilities, ethnic or national ori- (Gleichbehandlungsanwaltschaft) gin, belief etc.) at a particular disadvantage compared Since January 2005, the Office of the Ombud for Equal

64 65 Rassismus grenzt aus

Zivilcourage verbindet

Sujetentwicklung: Claude Assel Sujetentwicklung: Claude Assel 67 sappi ideas that matter sappi ideas that matter 40100:Layout 1 29.01.2010 16:12 Seite 1

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Diskriminierung kennt jeder Mensch. Wir alle werden diskriminiert und diskriminieren selbst. Daher können wir auch alle etwas dagegen tun. Gesetze schützen vor Diskriminierung, es braucht aber auch Mut, Engagement und Zivilcourage.

Der ÖGB setzt sich aktiv für Gleichbehandlung und gegen Diskriminierung ein! Für eine Arbeitswelt ohne Unterschiede und ohne Vorurteile.

WWW.OEGB.AT

ARBEIT OHNE UNTERSCHIEDE ARBEIT OHNE VORURTEILE

inseratZARA.indd 1 27.01.2010 13:02:59 © Bubu Dujmic

Im Zentrum unserer Bildungsarbeit steht die Suche nach einem umfassenden Denkrahmen für grüne Politik, der neben dem Grundwert der Ökologie auf Solidarität, Basisdemokratie, Selbstbestimmung, Gewaltfreiheit und auf einer feministischen Grundhaltung beruht. Sommerakademie der Grünen Bildungswerkstatt Do, 2. 9. bis So, 5. 9. 2010 in Bregenz

Über die Grenzen hinaus ... Neubaugasse 8 Perspektiven der Europäisierung (und Globalisierung) 1070 Wien T 01 / 526 91 11 kommunaler, regionaler und nationalstaatlicher Politik.

Drei Tage lang werden VertreterInnen von international tätigen NGOs und politische Manda- Unsere Zweigvereine tarInnen Möglichkeiten neuen politischen Handelns erkunden – bei spannenden Vorträgen, sind in allen aktivierenden Workshops und verbindenden Diskussionen: Miteinander Wege suchen, der Krise von Wirtschaft und Demokratie kraftvoll, konkret und grenzüberschreitend zu begegnen. Bundesländern aktiv. Eine Welt, in der alle Menschen am Reichtum, den Menschen produzieren und den die Natur Infos unter: bereitstellt, teilhaben, ist mit der gegenwärtigen Form zu leben und zu wirtschaften nicht [email protected] möglich. Weil es so nicht weitergeht, braucht es den Mut, die Zukunft neu zu gestalten. www.gbw.at

GBW_inserat_zara 1 23.02.10 15:33

„Wir legen noch eine SprAche DrAuf“ Aus 60 Sprachen auswählen Die Wiener Volkshochschulen Thomas Laimer, Kursleiter für Deutsch als Zweitsprache an der VHS

Jetzt Kurs71 buchen!

VHS_Inserat_210x297_laimer_neu.indd 1 16.02.2010 13:29:42 Uhr OeGJ_Antifa_Plakat-A1_V02_PRINT.pdf 1 20.01.10 11:34

Individuen sind unterschiedlich – aber alle Menschen sind gleich.

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ZARA counselling center for victims and witnesses of racism The ZARA counselling center for victims and witnesses of racism is available for appointments: Mon through Wed. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thu 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Luftbadgasse 14–16 T: (01) 929 13 99 [email protected] A–1060 Wien F: (01) 929 13 99–99 www.zara.or.at