Austria has stirred major controversy after a court in Vienna ruled that Islamic Sharia law could be legally binding in civil disputes. The case involved two Muslim men who used a Sharia arbitration tribunal to resolve a €320,000 (£277,000) debt. When the losing party appealed, claiming that such rulings held no legal weight in Austria, the Vienna Regional Court for Civil Law Matters upheld the tribunal’s decision, effectively granting Sharia-based arbitration recognition under Austrian law.

Judges argued that private individuals are free to resolve disputes by any method they choose, including through an Islamic tribunal. The decision, however, has sparked backlash from Austrian politicians. Deputy Governor of Upper Austria Manfred Haimbuchner warned that Sharia “is incompatible with our core values” and called the ruling a dangerous precedent for Islamic influence in Austria’s legal system. In response, Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm pledged swift action, stating that such cases highlight the urgent need to safeguard Austria’s constitutional principles.

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SOURCE: GB News