Austria / Austrian Press Council (Österreichischer Presserat), Medien24 GmbH.
Country
Austria
Year
Decision/ruling/judgment date
Incident(s) concerned/related
Related Bias motivation
Groups affected
Court/Body type
Court/Body
Key facts of the case
An article published in “wochenblick.at“ on 22 August 2019 reported about an increased mistreatment of hedgehogs and cruel killings of other wild animals in a Swedish town. The article reported that according to the chairwoman of the Animal Friends, this is especially the case in areas with a high density of migrants. The article is accompanied by a "symbolic picture" showing a mosque with minarets in front of a Swedish flag. In the background, a thundery sky with several flashes of lightning is visible
Main reasoning/argumentation
The Senate took the view that the picture attached to the article violates point 7 of the Code of Honour (protection of blanket disparagement and discrimination).The picture showing a mosque with minarets in front of a Swedish flag and a thundery sky with several flashes of lightning in the background gives the impression that Islam or Muslims are the cause or originator of the cruelty to animals. This places Muslims under a general suspicion, although not all migrants are Muslims and of course not all Muslims are animal abusers.
Is the case related to the application of the Framework Decision on Racism and Xenophobia, the Racial Equality Directive?
Key issues (concepts, interpretations) clarified by the case
The Austrian Press Council found that this article violated the “Principles for journalistic work - Code of Honour for the Austrian Press” (Point 7)
Results (sanctions, outcome) and key consequences or implications of the case
The Austrian Press Council requested the media owner to report about the decision taken by the Austrian Press Council.
Key quotation in original language and its unofficial translation into English with reference details
"Der Senat vertritt daher die Ansicht, dass das dem Artikel beigefügte Bild gegen Punkt 7 des Ehrenkodex (Schutz von Pauschalverunglimpfung und Diskriminierung) verstößt, indem durch die oben beschriebene Bildkomposition der Eindruck erweckt wird, dass der Islam bzw. Muslime Ursache bzw. Urheber der beschriebenen Tierquälereien seien.
"The Senate therefore takes the view that the picture attached to the article violates point 7 of the Code of Honour (protection of blanket disparagement and discrimination) in that the picture composition described above gives the impression that Islam or Muslims are the cause or originator of the cruelty to animals described."