Austria reports 1,647 racist attacks in 2024, 61% online

Austria recorded 1,647 racist attacks in 2024, with 61% of these incidents occurring in online spaces, according to the annual “Racism Report” released by the Civil Courage and Anti-Racism Work (ZARA) organization.

A rise in racist attacks

The number of racist attacks in Austria increased significantly from 1,302 in 2023 to 1,647 in 2024. Of these, 61% occurred on digital platforms, while the remaining 39% took place in various areas of social life.

“Internet” emerged as the most frequent environment for racist attacks, with 1,009 cases recorded. Public spaces came second, accounting for 13% of the attacks, while the entertainment and services sector saw 11% of racist incidents. Additionally, 6% of attacks occurred in public institutions, and 8% took place in other areas of social life.

Witnesses play key role in reporting

A significant portion of racist incidents were reported by witnesses, with 79% of cases being reported by individuals who witnessed the attack, and 21% being reported by the victims themselves. This discrepancy highlights a sense of hopelessness, as many victims believe that filing a complaint or reporting to the police will not lead to any meaningful action.

Focus on healthcare, discrimination

Rita Isiba, director of ZARA, presented this year’s report with a focus on racial discrimination, exclusion, and racist attitudes in the healthcare sector. She noted that migrants and people of migrant descent often face dismissive attitudes in medical institutions, with their complaints ignored, and their pain perceived as unimportant.

“When racism determines the quality of a person’s medical care, it can lead to life-threatening situations,” Isiba explained. She further emphasized that victims are often deprived of effective complaint mechanisms and protection measures in healthcare settings.

Isiba pointed out that the incidents documented in the report are not isolated but rather indicative of a structural problem. She called for consistent actions from political decision-makers to combat racism and stressed the importance of civil society’s contribution to this effort.