Radicalization in Vienna-Josefstadt: Mosque is under attack

Radicalization in Vienna-Josefstadt: Mosque is under attack

A mosque in Vienna's Josefstadt is causing a stir because it has become a magnet for young extremists. On Fridays, men with noticeable beards and young people in long trousers regularly gather in front of the inconspicuous basement restaurant to take part in the most important prayer in Christianity, the Friday prayer. Surveillance cameras record the action, while the sign above the entrance reads “En-Nasiha” – which means “advice” in Arabic.

The situation escalated when a young man who frequently visited the mosque was recently arrested for his attempted assassination at Vienna Central Station. Ali K. had planned to carry out an attack with a knife in September 2023, but was dissuaded in time and sentenced to two years in prison. His conviction is part of a larger issue that has affected the mosque for years and is now being brought into the public spotlight again.

A center for extremism

The mosque has already been described in reports by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a “contact point for people from the radical Islamist milieu”. ZackZack's research shows that more and more extremist people have been frequenting there recently. An extremist Telegram group that documents the mosque's activities is also contributing to the religious community now considering a possible dissolution.

The mosque has a long and troubled history. It hit the headlines back in 2011 when the terrorist Mohammed Mahmoud preached here. Mahmut was later active in Syria and a leading figure in the terrorist militia IS. Another well-known extremist, Mirsad Omerovic, known as Ebu Tejma, radicalized numerous people there and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.

The basement bar has cult status, especially among extremists, and radical believers always find their way there. The Vienna attacker Kujtim F. was first spotted in the mosque in 2018. In addition to Ali K., there was also a 20-year-old who was in custody and wanted to get a book by an IS theorist. The connection to extremist circles is obvious.

Connections to the Balkans

The people operating around the “En-Nasiha” mosque have close ties to the Salafist communities in the Balkans, particularly in Bosnia. As early as 2010, media reported on a network that is still active today and has connections to dangerous extremists. The invitation of the radical preacher Emir Cajic to the mosque underlines the insecure situation that prevails there.

Cajic is known for his anti-democratic views and has vehemently rejected the existence of “democratic Islam” in the past. In his radical statements, he portrays those who vote as infidels who deviate from true Islam through their participation in the democratic system.

There is also an active Telegram group linked to the mosque. Content is shared there, ranging from heroic depictions of terrorism to extremist slogans. Quotations from Islamist sermons and calls for violent actions are not uncommon. There are reports that a dangerous tendency to glorify jihad and grass is reaching levels that are worrying.

The Islamic Religious Community (IGGÖ) has announced that the mosque is being examined internally, possibly with the aim of dissolving it. In a query, they state that this review began before the summer and overlaps with the findings of ZackZack research. These events shed a shocking light on the power structures and ideological currents within the mosque.

The future of the mosque is now in jeopardy. Should the IGGÖ come to the conclusion that a closure is necessary, this could represent a significant development in the fight against extremism in Vienna. This could mean that the association behind the mosque can continue to work in the Berlin area, but should it pose a threat to the authorities.

This explosive topic is attracting increasing attention. For more information and an in-depth analysis of this case, see the report on zackzack.at.