Austria’s struggle with mass migration holds a lesson for America



The croissant isn’t French — it’s an Austrian culinary rebellion against the Ottoman Empire. Since the 13th century, Austrian bakers have been shaping the croissant’s predecessor, the crescent-shaped kipferl, mimicking the Ottoman moon, which, according to popular lore, was used to celebrate the Habsburgs' final standoff against Turkish invaders after the Battle of Vienna in 1683.

Austria’s long-standing defiance against the Turks is as integral to its national identity as Charlemagne’s victory over the Muslim Moors is to France. As Christendom’s last line of defense against Islamic expansion into Europe, Austria held the line. Yet today, Turkish kebab shops fill nearly every street in central Vienna, competing with bakeries that once symbolized the Ottoman Empire’s defeat. The contrast is striking.

Parallel societies will inevitably form without a clear path for immigrants to adopt a national identity.

The Turkish community has become Austria’s largest minority. As of 2023, approximately 500,000 residents of Turkish origin live in the country, a sharp rise from 39,000 in 2001 — a 1,200% increase.

Does this shift reflect modern-day “tolerance” ending nearly 1,000 years of imperial rivalry, or are deeper forces at work?

Tolerance or dire straits?

Popular explanations of Europe’s recent mass migration credit events like the Syrian war in 2015 or the siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s, which prompted waves of asylum-seekers. However, mass migration in Austria dates back to the aftermath of World War II, when the country lay in rubble with a diminished male population.

To rebuild, Austria sought foreign workers. With the Iron Curtain blocking labor from Eastern Europe, the former Catholic empire turned to its historical rival across the Bosphorus. Austria actively recruited Turkish workers in the following decades, promising employment and economic opportunities.

One local Turkish resident, Metin, remembers, as a child in the 1980s, seeing Austrian embassy billboards in Istanbul promoting jobs and benefits — a golden ticket. Like tens of thousands of others, his family eagerly accepted the offer. However, both Austrians and Turks miscalculated. Austrians assumed the Turks would return home when the job was over. The Turks believed they would be welcomed in their new land. Neither were correct.

“I quickly realized that I wasn’t wanted,” Metin recounted. “My work was wanted, but I wasn’t.”

What started as a temporary workforce has transformed Austria. Turks have established their own parallel society, which continues to grow in influence and numbers. Today, Muslim immigrants, particularly from Turkey, are surpassing Austrians in birth rates while preserving a strong religious and cultural identity from their home country.

Meanwhile, the once-Catholic imperial stronghold is becoming increasingly secular, stepping away from the faith that once defined its national identity. This demographic shift has profound implications — not just for Austria but for all of Europe.

What America can learn

The United States can learn valuable lessons from countries that have dealt with mass migration for generations. Today, 14.9% of the U.S. population is foreign-born, the highest percentage since the immigration surge of 1910.

While left-leaning arguments favor foreign workers to boost the economy, the long-term challenges cannot be ignored. Postwar Austria may have benefited from such policies, but history shows that immigration requires more than economic justification — it demands integration and assimilation.

As Turkish-born Metin warns, welcoming workers means welcoming people. Parallel societies will inevitably form without a clear path for immigrants to adopt a national identity. At best, they may coexist peacefully, leaving the long-term impact dependent on demographics. At worst, clashing cultural norms could threaten national cohesion for generations.

The United States holds a key advantage over Austria in shaping national identity. Unlike European nations, which often tie identity to ethnic heritage, America, for good or ill, does allow for hyphenated identities, such as African-American or Mexican-American. In Austria, one is either Turkish or Austrian — there is no equivalent of a blended national identity. As a result, Turks and Austrians live as separate cultures rather than uniting around shared ideals. Over time, Austria’s future will not be determined by external threats but by shifting demographics within its borders.

America’s strength lies in its ability to forge a national identity independent of ethnicity. In theory, people from all backgrounds can participate in the American experiment, but assimilation does not happen automatically. If we continue to welcome immigrants, we must also provide the framework for integration — otherwise, we risk facing the same challenges Austria now confronts.

Afghan gang rapes shatter Vienna's civilized café society



Austria is often depicted as a land of absolute bliss — a paradise where the sound of music fills the air and the Alps soar high. The capital, Vienna, known for its stunning architecture and its countless cafés, exudes an air of sophistication.

But beneath this postcard-perfect image, a far darker reality has emerged. Yodeling has turned into shrieking as gang violence grips the streets.

In February, in the space of just 24 hours, three women were stabbed to death by a 27-year-old Afghan national.

In short, “The Land of Dreams” is consumed by nightmares that threaten its very identity. Many of these nightmares have been — and continue to be — triggered by Barbarian-like migrants.

The escalating violence has sparked outrage. National elections are just a few weeks away. The Central European nation is in a state of existential upheaval, with solutions on offer that would have seemed unthinkable just a decade ago.

Boots on the ground

This brings us to the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), which recently turned heads both domestically and abroad with a controversial proposal: Deploy the military to restore law and order.

The FPÖ has been riding high in public opinion since 2022, positioning itself as the champion of terrified Austrians. Its message is clear: Take back control of the country and do so with swift and decisive action. The message is resonating. As I write this, the FPÖ is leading with 27% of the vote, while the center-right ÖVP trails closely behind at 23%.

Gang-rape diplomacy

Should the FPÖ come out on top, it will face significant challenges. Recent data, for instance, reveal a notable increase in crime rates within Vienna’s districts with large immigrant populations. According to the latest police statistics, the Austrian capital experiences an average of 460 crimes daily. Of these incidents, roughly 52% involve migrants, most from Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries.

When it comes to imported rape and murder, Austria is clearly catching up to its neighbor Germany.

In one particularly shocking incident from 2017, three Afghan asylum seekers gang-raped a woman at a train station.

In 2021, three Afghan migrants assaulted a 13-year-old girl and forced her to take enough drugs that she overdosed and died. Her body was later found wrapped in a carpet and left by a tree.

Of course, Afghans don’t have a monopoly on monstrous acts. In another shocking case, an Austrian court sentenced eight Iraqi men for the gang rape of a German tourist during New Year’s celebrations in Vienna.

In majority-Muslim countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Pakistan, gang rape is not uncommon, particularly when used as a method of punishment. In some cases, these acts are framed as a way to enforce "moral codes" or as retribution for perceived slights against family honor.

The concept of "honor" plays a significant role in these societies, where women are often seen as the bearers of family reputation. If a woman is perceived to have engaged in behavior that brings shame to her family — whether through accusations of infidelity, inappropriate relationships, or even simply being seen in the wrong company — gang rape can be inflicted as a form of retribution. Sometimes the victim is punished for the perceived transgressions of another.

An infamous example of this is Mukhtar Mai, a young Pakistani woman who was gang-raped in 2002 on the orders of a tribal council. She was accused of no crime; the punishment was in response to a crime her brother allegedly committed. The attack was intended to humiliate her and her family.

Austria’s future?

While such practices might be considered normal in their countries of origin, they are shocking and horrifying to anyone with a moral compass in a civilized society like Austria.

Often, this depravity takes on a dangerous political dimension. Last month, Austrian authorities uncovered a disturbing plot by Islamic fundamentalists to target Taylor Swift concerts in the capital. Officials revealed that one of the would-be mass murderers admitted to planning to "kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue.”

While this threat was averted, violence elsewhere remains relentless. In February, in the space of just 24 hours, three women were stabbed to death by a 27-year-old Afghan national.

Clearly, this is no longer the Austria of Johann Strauss and Gustav Klimt. The coming election will be more than a vote on who leads the country — it will be a referendum on Austria's very survival.

Third suspect — an 18-year-old Iraqi citizen — arrested in connection with foiled Taylor Swift concert terror plot in Austria



A third suspect — an 18-year-old Iraqi citizen — has been arrested in connection with a foiled Taylor Swift concert terror plot in Austria, ABC News reported.

The third suspect was taken into custody Thursday evening in Vienna after allegedly being in contact with a 19-year-old Austrian citizen — the main suspect — Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said Friday, according to the news network.

The main suspect 'wanted to carry out an attack in the area outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using the knives or even using the explosive devices he had made,' Haijawi-Pirchner added to the AP.

A 17-year-old suspected accomplice — another Austrian citizen — also has been arrested, and Karner said “intensive investigations” are continuing, ABC News reported. Authorities detained and interrogated a 15-year-old Turkish citizen, but that individual is not considered a suspect the news network said.

Swift's shows that had been scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this week at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna were canceled for safety reasons.

What else do we know?

Officials said the 19-year-old Austrian suspect began working on his terror plot in July and just a few weeks ago uploaded to the internet an oath of allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State group militia, the Associated Press reported.

He was “clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels,” said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, according to the outlet.

The main suspect "wanted to carry out an attack in the area outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using the knives or even using the explosive devices he had made," Haijawi-Pirchner added to the AP.

Concert organizers told the outlet they were expecting up to 65,000 Swift fans inside the stadium at each show — and as many as 30,000 onlookers outside the stadium.

Karner told the AP that the foiled attack was planned for Thursday or Friday, and the outlet added that neither the 19-year-old suspect nor the 17-year-old suspect appeared to have a ticket to any of Swift's shows.

More from the AP:

During a raid of the main suspect’s home in Ternitz, south of Vienna, investigators found chemical substances and technical devices that indicated “concrete preparatory acts,” said Franz Ruf, Director General for Public Security at the Ministry of the Interior.

Authorities also found Islamic State group and al-Qaida material at the home of the second suspect, a 17-year-old Austrian. He was employed a few days ago by a company providing services at the venue for the concerts, and was arrested by special police forces near the stadium.

The AP's story referenced the deadly July 29 mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed children's dance class in Southport, England, during which a 17-year-old male was accused of killing three and injuring numerous other victims. Swift at the time said she was ‘’completely in shock’’ over the attack, the AP reported.

Officials initially said there was no evidence that terrorism was a motive in the Southport knife attack, which angered many who accused the government of covering up evidence. Police identified suspect Axel Rudakubana and charged him with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder. Officials identified him as being from Cardiff but also noted that his parents are Rwandan.

Unrest and violence erupted the day after the stabbings and have spread across the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced the violence and blamed "far-right thuggery."

However, now-suspended U.K. Labour Party Councillor Ricky Jones reportedly was arrested this week on suspicion of encouraging murder of anti-immigration protesters after an outdoor speech in London in front of a rabid, far-left crowd during which he hollered, "They are disgusting, nasty fascists, and we need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all!" A video of the speech shows him sliding his finger across his neck as he spoke; he then led a “free, free Palestine!" chant.

Radio host Glenn Beck, co-founder of Blaze Media, earlier this week opined that "two-tier justice" — in which police more or less ignore Muslim immigrant crime but come down hard on non-Muslims — has been laid bare in the U.K. in the wake of the deadly knife attack.

ISIS took credit for a 2017 bombing attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, that killed 22. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi set up a knapsack bomb in Manchester Arena at the end of Grande’s concert as thousands of young fans were leaving, the AP said, adding that more than 100 were injured, and Abedi died in the explosion.

An official inquiry concluded that Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, didn’t act fast enough on key intelligence and missed a chance to prevent the bombing, the AP added.

Swift is expected to perform five concerts at London’s Wembley Stadium between Aug. 15 and 20 to close the European leg of her Eras Tour, the AP said.

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19-year-old Taylor Swift concert plotter, radicalized by Islamic State, wanted to 'kill as many people as possible': Police



The arrested 19-year-old Taylor Swift concert plotter was radicalized by the Islamic State, "thinks it is right to kill infidels," and confessed he wanted to "kill as many people as possible," the Associated Press reported, citing Austrian authorities.

Swift's shows scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna were canceled Wednesday for safety reasons.

'Authorities also found Islamic State group and al-Qaida material at the home of the second suspect, a 17-year-old Austrian. He was employed a few days ago by a company providing services at the venue for the concerts, and was arrested by special police forces near the stadium.'

Officials said the 19-year-old Austrian suspect began working on his terror plot in July and just a few weeks ago uploaded to the internet an oath of allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State group militia, the AP said.

He was “clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels,” said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, according to the outlet.

The suspect "wanted to carry out an attack in the area outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using the knives or even using the explosive devices he had made," Haijawi-Pirchner added to the AP.

Concert organizers told the outlet they were expecting up to 65,000 Swift fans inside the stadium at each show — and as many as 30,000 onlookers outside the stadium.

The foiled attack was planned for Thursday or Friday, Austria’s interior minister, Gerhard Karner, told the AP. The outlet added that neither the 19-year-old suspect nor a second suspect, a 17-year-old, appeared to have a ticket to any of Swift's shows.

More from the AP:

During a raid of the main suspect’s home in Ternitz, south of Vienna, investigators found chemical substances and technical devices that indicated “concrete preparatory acts,” said Franz Ruf, Director General for Public Security at the Ministry of the Interior.

Authorities also found Islamic State group and al-Qaida material at the home of the second suspect, a 17-year-old Austrian. He was employed a few days ago by a company providing services at the venue for the concerts, and was arrested by special police forces near the stadium.

Karner said no other suspects are being sought, the outlet noted, although police interrogated a 15-year-old who had been in contact with both suspects.

The AP said Swift and her team haven't publicly addressed the plot or canceled shows.

The outlet in its story referenced the deadly July 29 mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed children's dance class in Southport, England, during which a 17-year-old male was accused of killing three and injuring numerous other victims. Swift at the time said she was ‘’completely in shock’’ over the attack, the AP reported.

Officials initially said there was no evidence that terrorism was a motive in the Southport knife attack, which angered many who accused the government of covering up evidence. Police identified suspect Axel Rudakubana and charged him with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder. Officials identified him as being from Cardiff but also noted that his parents are Rwandan.

Unrest and violence erupted the day after the stabbings and have spread across the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced the violence and blamed "far-right thuggery."

Radio host Glenn Beck, co-founder of Blaze Media, on Tuesday opined that "two-tier justice" — in which police more or less ignore Muslim immigrant crime but come down hard on non-Muslims — has been laid bare in the U.K. in the wake of the deadly knife attack.

ISIS took credit for a 2017 bombing attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, that killed 22. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi set up a knapsack bomb in Manchester Arena at the end of Grande’s concert as thousands of young fans were leaving, the AP said, adding that more than 100 were injured and Abedi died in the explosion.

An official inquiry concluded that Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, didn’t act fast enough on key intelligence and missed a chance to prevent the bombing, the AP added.

Swift is expected to perform five concerts at London’s Wembley Stadium between Aug. 15 and 20 to close the European leg of her Eras Tour, the AP said.

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Terror suspect, 19, who pledged allegiance to ISIS arrested over alleged attack plot targeting Taylor Swift shows in Austria



A 19-year-old terror suspect who pledged allegiance to ISIS was arrested Wednesday morning in Austria over an alleged attack plot targeting now-canceled Taylor Swift shows this week in Vienna.

A second suspect in the alleged plot, who also reportedly radicalized himself online, was arrested later in the day, ABC News reported.

The 19-year-old has 'North Macedonian roots' and 'lived with his family in Ternitz' and was arrested 'under strong suspicion of terrorism,' according to the Los Angeles Times, which cited Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung.

The 19-year-old — an Austrian citizen — allegedly pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State in the beginning of July and was particularly focused on Swift's concerts, ABC News said, citing Franz Ruf, director-general for public safety in the Ministry of the Interior.

Swift's shows scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna were canceled Wednesday, the Associated Press reported. Each show was expected to draw 65,000, ABC News noted. Event organizer Barracuda Music said in an Instagram post that “we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety," the AP added.

Amid the 19-year-old's arrest, a bomb squad allegedly found chemical substances, NBC News said, adding that investigators are working to determine whether the substances could have been used to build a bomb.

The 19-year-old has "North Macedonian roots” and “lived with his family in Ternitz" and was arrested “under strong suspicion of terrorism,” according to the Los Angeles Times, which cited Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung. Ternitz is around 43 miles south of Vienna, the Times added.

Anything else?

It's far from clear whether there's any connection to Wednesday's arrests, but none of the aforementioned news outlets mentioned the deadly July 29 mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed children's dance class in Southport, England, during which a 17-year-old male killed three and injured numerous other victims.

Officials initially said there was no evidence that terrorism was a motive for the attack, which angered many who accused the government of covering up evidence. Police identified suspect Axel Rudakubana and charged him with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder. Officials identified him as being from Cardiff but also noted that his parents are Rwandan.

Unrest and violence erupted the day after the stabbings and has spread across the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced the violence and blamed "far-right thuggery."

Radio host Glenn Beck, co-founder of Blaze Media, on Tuesday opined that "two-tier justice" — in which police more or less ignore Muslim immigrant crime but come down hard on non-Muslims — has been laid bare in the U.K. in the wake of the deadly knife attack.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Beheading Of Obscene Sculpture Of Virgin Mary Offends Arts Commentariat

A sculpture of the Virgin Mary, nude from the belly down, with legs spread, was beheaded earlier this month in a cathedral in Linz, Austria.

Global Meltdowns Over Cost Of Living Keep Getting Worse

'Low-intensity civil war'

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The video shows an Austrian protest against climate change

Austria to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for most adults and fine the non-compliant



Austria's parliament on Thursday voted to impose a COVID-19 vaccine mandate requiring people ages 18 and older to get vaccinated or face fines, according to the Associated Press, which noted that the mandate will take effect in February.

Reuters reported that the country's lower house of parliament approved the bill which would also need to clear the upper house and secure the president's signature, though the outlet said that those additional moves would in large part represent formalities.

The sweeping vaccine mandate for adults does include several exceptions, including for pregnant women, individuals who cannot get the jab due to medical reasons, and people who have recuperated from the illness within the prior six months, according to the AP. Those who recently had the illness are exempt for 180 days from when they had their first positive PCR COVID-19 test, CNN reported.

Around 72% of the nation's population is fully vaccinated against the illness.

CNN noted that while the law takes effect on Feb. 1, officials will not start checking for compliance until March 15.

Unvaccinated people will face significant financial consequences for failing to comply with the mandate.

"Making COVID-19 vaccination compulsory is an emergency exit ... out of the constant restrictions on our personal and fundamental rights like the ones we have had to endure in the past two years," Pamela Rendi-Wagner, who leads the opposition Social Democrats, told Parliament, according to Reuters.

"This vaccine mandate strips people of their rights. In one move, millions of Austrians will be downgraded," Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl said, according to Reuters. The AP quoted Kickl describing the law as "nothing more than a huge blow to the freedoms of Austrians."

In the U.S., vaccine mandates proposed and/or instituted by the public and private sectors have proven to be controversial, with many Americans decrying them as unacceptable infringements of individual liberty.

Austria fining people up to $16,000 a year for not complying with vaccine mandate, creating central COVID-19 vaccination register



Austria is threatening stiff fines on citizens who do not comply with the country's new COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Austria will fine people up to $16,000 a year if they remain unvaccinated.

This week, the Austrian government became the first European country to announce it would implement a general vaccine mandate. Effective Feb. 1, all Austrian residents aged 14 and older are required to get vaccinated against coronavirus.

Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said that there would be exemptions for pregnant women, those who can't get vaccinated for medical reasons, and for people who have recovered from COVID-19 in the previous six months. The government will create a central vaccination register to track those who are exempt and unvaccinated individuals.

The COVID-19 vaccination register will be checked every three months. The first deadline will be March 15.

The Austrian government will issue fines of up to about $4,000 on people who are not vaccinated and who do not qualify for an exemption. Fines can be imposed every three months. Legal proceedings will be dropped if people provide proof of vaccination in the meantime.

"People's income and other financial obligations will be taken into account in calculating fines," ABC News reported. "Alternatively, officials can opt to impose a fine of up to [about $680] in shortened proceedings."

"Around 68% of Austria's population of 8.9 million is vaccinated, a comparatively low rate for Western Europe," Fox News reported. "Neighboring Germany, where the rate is just over 69%, also is eyeing the introduction of a general vaccine mandate early next year, though plans have yet to be drawn up and officials say they will let lawmakers vote according to their conscience rather than along party lines."

Karoline Edtstadler – the Cabinet minister responsible for constitutional issues – said the government has "an obligation and a need to increase vaccination coverage so that we don't go from lockdown to lockdown, next year as well."

"There are still well over a million Austrians who aren't vaccinated. That is too many," Edtstadler added. "I say very clearly that we don't want to punish the people who aren't vaccinated. We want to bring them along, we want to convince them of this vaccination and we want them to show solidarity with everyone so that we can regain our freedom."

There have been just over 13,000 COVID-19 deaths in Austria since the pandemic started.

Last Saturday, over 40,000 people marched through Vienna to protest against COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates, according to Reuters.

 
In #Austria, thousands have gathered to protest the mandatory vaccination passports. Take a look.pic.twitter.com/Wb3f1MePMm
— Steve Hanke (@Steve Hanke) 1638649800