They submitted the matter to a Sharia tribunal, which ruled against one of the parties. That individual later appealed to the Vienna Regional Court for Civil Law Matters, arguing that the decision had no legal standing in Austria. Judges disagreed, ruling that private individuals are permitted to resolve civil conflicts through mechanisms of their choice, including religious arbitration.
The decision has provoked a strong political response. “Sharia is incompatible with our core values,” said Manfred Haimbuchner, Deputy Governor of Upper Austria. He described the case as “another example of how our legal system and our constitutional state have nothing to counter the gradual appropriation of Islam.”
Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm vowed to review existing legislation and prepare measures to make sure that rulings cannot apply in future. “Sharia has nothing to do with Austria and the principles of our constitution, and it should remain that way,” she said. “Sharia rules do not belong in Austria, and therefore I assume that we will soon receive the relevant proposals.”
The right-wing Freedom Party also condemned the judgment. “If Austrian courts now also recognize arbitration awards based on Sharia law, they will be submitting to the will of fanatical Islamists,” said Michael Schilchegger, the party’s constitutional spokesman.
The Vienna court said that its decision applies only to civil disputes and that Sharia remains irrelevant in criminal law, reports GB NEWS.
The Turkish Cultural Community in Austria also criticized the ruling. “As Muslims in the EU, or rather in our new homeland of Austria, we must not only respect the constitution and laws, but also consult a lawyer and notary for such an agreement amounting to €320,000,” the group said in a statement.
