Nazi comparisons have become such frequent occurrences almost anywhere in the world that they rarely draw attention these days. But in Adolf Hitler’s birth country, Austria, they usually still strike a nerve whenever they come up.
They certainly did so this week, after Jewish organizations criticized the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), the ruling coalition party in the state of Lower Austria, over pursuing a proposal that would require Jews to register with the government if they seek to purchase kosher meat. The same rules would apply to Muslims.
“This constitutes an attack on Jewish and Muslim life,” the Berlin-based American Jewish Committee wrote in a response. “Soon with a star on the chest?” the Jewish advocacy group asked, referring to the Star of David badges that Jews were forced to wear during parts of the Nazi era. Striking a similar tone, Vienna’s “Israeli Cultural Community” association branded the law proposal an “Aryan paragraph.”
Austria’s FPÖ has had a number of Nazi scandals in recent years and has been accused of stirring anti-Semitic sentiments, but this time the right-wing populists consider themselves to be treated unfairly by their critics.
“This law proposal dates back to 2017, when it was drafted by the Social Democrat during his last days in office,” Alexander Murlasits, an FPÖ spokesman, told The Washington Post on Thursday.
“All we’re doing now is to follow the rules. This is absolutely not about religion — it’s about animal protection,” said Murlasits.
Source: WP
