Austria | HCRW

Austria regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Implemented in 2021, Austria's new hate crime recording system represents a good practice in the region. The Austrian Ministry of Interior is also a member of the civil society network "Hate Crime Kontern", which strengthens hate crime co-ordination and victim support, and co-operates directly with civil society organizations. Hate crime statistics collected by the Ministry are published online each year.

In January 2023, Austria implemented ODIHR's Diagnostic Workshop to Assess National Structures and Services for Hate Crime Victim Support.

SELECT YEAR

Download the 2013 hate crime report for Austria

OFFICIAL DATA REPORTED BY STATES

Year	Hate crimes recorded by police	Prosecuted	Sentenced
2023	5,668	2,755	246
2022	5,865	3,035	272
2021	5,464	4,304	184
2020	156	436	169
2019	125	421	191
2018	307	407	208
2017	302	Not available	Not available
2016	425	Not available	Not available
2015	395	Not available	Not available
2014	186	Not available	Not available
2013	110	Not available	Not available
2012	91	Not available	Not available
2011	59	38	1
2010	101	1	1
2009	62	Not available	Not available

About 2013 Data

Figure includes crimes of incitement to hatred.

Download official data

National developments

The Ministry of the Interior’s Federal Agency for State Protection and Counterterrorism has been conducting an awareness-raising campaign among prison staff regarding extremist radicalization and recruitment since 2012.

KEY OBSERVATION

ODIHR observes that Austria has not reported on hate crimes separately from cases of hate speech.

Incidents reported by civil society, international organizations and the Holy See

Reports

Anti-Muslim hate crime

Anti-Discrimination Office Styria reported one incident of threats against Muslim girls wearing headscarves.

Hate crime against Christians and members of other religions

The Holy See reported one case of damage to church property when shoes were thrown at an altar during a Christmas midnight mass. Austrian authorities reported back that the court proceedings ended with an acquittal of the accused on the grounds of mental incapacity, and that religious bias motivation could not be established.

The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians reported two incidents of the desecration of places of worship, one of which included burglary. The European Association of Jehovah's Christian Witnesses / Jehovah’s Witnesses – Austria reported seven incidents of damage to places of worship involving buildings being broken into or vandalized.

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

The Holy See reported one case of anti-Polish graffiti on the wall of a church where a priest of Polish descent works. Austrian authorities reported back that the perpetrator was not identified and that no bias motivation was established.

ZARA reported 11 physical assaults, two of which resulted in serious injuries. In seven cases, the victims were women. ZARA also reported one attempted arson against a camp for asylum seekers; three incidents of damage to property, one of which included an incident of graffiti; four incidents of threats; one attack by a group against a Turkish cultural centre; and 11 incidents of racist graffiti.

Anti-Semitic hate crime

ZARA reported 29 incidents of graffiti, one of which involved a synagogue, and several incidents of damage to commemorative Stolpersteine (small stones commemorating individual victims of Nazism). The Forum Against anti-Semitism reported seven physical assaults, six incidents of damage to property, 48 incidents of vandalism and 24 threats.

Anti-Roma hate crime

ZARA and the Romano Centro reported one incident of threats and a planned arson attack against a group of Roma by a group, which had been organized on Facebook.

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

Anti-Discrimination Office Styria reported one incident in which a transgender person was spat at.

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

No information is available.