Kickl was referring to imams with alleged links to the Turkish-Islamic Cultural Associations (ATIB) organisation, a branch of Turkey's religious affairs agency Diyanet. The interior minister added that the government suspects them of contravening a ban on foreign funding of religious office holders. The government said it had been operating illegally and that it was under the influence of the far-right Turkish political movement, the Grey Wolves. Six other mosques are being closed down, three in Vienna, two in Upper Austria and one in Carinthia. Around 360,000 people of Turkish origin live in Austria, including 117,000 Turkish nationals.

Source: The Local June 08, 2018 06:34 UTC