A troubling report from Upper Austria has shed light on the growing Islamist radicalization of young girls, with extremists using online platforms and schools to recruit them. These efforts aim to drive early marriages, pregnancies, and isolation from their families and education, sparking calls for urgent government action.
The findings, presented to the “Extremism” subcommittee of the Upper Austrian state parliament, reveal how radical Islamists target girls, often luring them through online connections. Michael Tischlinger, head of the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Combating Terrorism, explained the chilling process in an interview with the Kurier.
“These girls are contacted online and converted very quickly,” Tischlinger said. Once recruited, many girls sever ties with their families, adopt full veiling, and drop out of school. Some even vanish entirely, leaving their families in turmoil. Tischlinger described this trend as one of the office’s “biggest current concerns,” with cases of pregnancies among radicalized girls adding to the gravity of the situation.
He criticized the lack of proactive measures by authorities, saying, “The intensity of the last few months surprised us. These girls are almost always victims, and most are caught up in police investigations, which often come too late.”
The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) has voiced serious concern over the report. Herwig Mahr, FPÖ’s regional chairman, called for immediate action from the federal government, emphasizing the need for stronger migration controls and expanded prevention programs. “The future federal government must prioritize this issue to protect our children,” Mahr urged.
The FPÖ has also formally requested detailed data from the federal interior ministry, including statistics on radicalized girls and pregnancies, as well as any steps taken to warn schools. Their parliamentary inquiry seeks recommendations for parents and educators on how to combat recruitment attempts.
The party questioned why the public had not been more thoroughly informed about these activities, pushing for greater transparency and swift intervention to address this alarming threat.
