Escalation in demonstrations in Vienna: conditions, such as in the Banlieues?

On Monday, Austria and Turkey have exchanged, through diplomatic channels, mutual reproaches and reminders. The occasion for riots during the demonstrations of Kurdish and left of Austrian activists have taken place clashes with Turkish nationalists last week in Vienna were. Several police officers were injured, shop Windows were smashed, street furniture was demolished. The government in Vienna, which accused Ankara, "to pour Oil into the fire," Turkey accused of Austria, to tolerate symbols of terrorist organizations. In the two main cities of the Ambassador of the other country, or his Deputy, was invited to an interview in the Ministry of foreign Affairs"".

Stephan Löwenstein

Political correspondent, based in Vienna.

the starting point of the clashes last Wednesday was a Demonstration with some hundred participants in the district of Favoriten, which was directed against violence against women. It had been organized by Kurdish Associations and activists of the "Antifa". Apparently, there were already minor skirmishes with passers-by, who had expressed according to official data, their "displeasure" and provocative Gestures showed, especially the "wolf salute", a sign of recognition of the Turkish nationalist extremists. This group was always stronger, the police also strengthened their squad and tried to the two groups apart and ultimately dissolve. Still, it came in the course of the Evening there will definitely be riots.

provocations of counter-demonstrators

On Thursday and Friday were in the evening, protest rallies held with more and more participants, during which there were further riots. Were also devastated premises of the left and Kurdish activists in the previously Autonomous "occupied" and meanwhile, as a "cultural centre" used in the house. In the later demonstrations and politicians took part in the Viennese Green party leader and Deputy mayor Birgit Hebein. According to the organizers, but also of the Vienna police provocations and violence were assumed to be obvious of the "counter-demonstrators", the Turkish-nationalist slogans shouted and characters shown as well as several attempts had, in smaller groups of the page in the Assembly to invade. On the weekend, there were more rallies, which were but without the riots.