Attack plans at Vienna Pride also targeted a migrant group – at Chechens! Unfortunately, one must say: once again. Why are Chechens so often in the negative spotlight and what is wrong with them?
In the first episode of the new krone.tv program “Das Duell”, Andreas Mölzer spoke very frankly: when his sons want to go out in the evening in Villach, he warns them not to mess with Chechens. “They are very brutal,” the blue veteran judges. Yes, one could accuse him of racism. But most mere mortals probably see it the same way.
Fighting youth gangs, vendettas, mass brawls, terror
This is mainly due to the many negative headlines. Shots at a Chechen wedding, a violent youth gang, vendettas and mass brawls are just some of the headlines read in recent years. Most recently, the legendary population group fell into the spotlight again, because a 14-year-old Chechen with two Bosnians allegedly plotted a terrorist attack with knives or cars on Vienna Pride…
Chechens do not have a good reputation
The estimated 35,000 Chechens living in Austria do not have a good reputation. Wrongly? At least, according to an older report, the Federal Criminal Investigation Department also sees the Chechen flu as the biggest challenge, “because their criminal structures are increasingly entrenched in Germany”. A brand new study also confirms that the Chechen community has a “great potential for radicalization”. Therefore it will hardly be a mere prejudice.
A poisonous mix of national pride, strict Islam and experience of violence
Violence is close at hand for many Chechens as a result of the vicious civil war, and there is also great national pride – a fundamentally toxic mix. Coupled with a mostly strict interpretation of Islam, including patriarchal masculinity and a penchant for martial arts and weapons, this rightly puts many Austrians off. Another study shows that integration is particularly difficult in this group, according to which many Chechens in Austria are unemployed.
Don’t lump everyone together
Of course, it is wrong to lump everyone together, and the majority of Chechens are probably also low profile. Nevertheless, the barriers to integration must also be fairly mentioned and acknowledged and not brushed aside under the generalization of ‘racism’. Everything else is naive.
Source: Krone
I am George Kunkel, an author working for Today Times Live. I specialize in opinion pieces and cover stories that are both informative and thought-provoking – helping to shape public discourse on key issues. My work is regularly featured across the network’s many platforms, including print media and social media.
