Austria’s president was forced to intervene yesterday after the first child to be born in the country in 2018 was subjected to a torrent of racist online abuse when it emerged the new-born's parents were Muslim.
President Alexander Van der Bellen, a 73-year-old liberal green politician, pointedly issued his congratulations to the girl, who was named Asel after being born in the early hours of New Year’s Day in Vienna.
New Year's baby Asel and her parents; Vile racists have flooded the internet with hate speech directed at the official New Year's baby born in Vienna. Photo Credit: CEN/KAV/Votava
“Welcome, Dear Asel!”, Mr Van der Bellen said in a Facebook post, before reminding those who left racist messages that “all men are born free and equal in dignity and rights”, and speaking out against “hatred and agitation”.
Asel Tamga was named "the first Viennese baby" of the year and her photo appeared in many local media outlets, with her mother wearing a hijab head-covering.
However the newborn girl was greeted not with good wishes, but hundreds of extreme Islamophobic comments posted to the Facebook page celebrating the birth.
(The Telegraph)
Leave your comments
Login to post a comment
Post comment as a guest