1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

Austria: Controversial Culture

December 3, 2012

A new culture center in Austria is proving controversial. Its purpose is to promote inter-faith dialogue - but critics are outraged: its funding comes from Saudi Arabia, a country not known for its religious tolerance.

Die Wiener Hofburg mit dem neu eingeweihten König-Abdullah-Zentrum für interreligiösen und interkulturellen Dialog, Wien, Österreich. Herkunft: DW Eigendreh
Image: DW

Saudi Arabia bought the neo-Baroque building in Vienna for 14 million euros and named the new center for worldwide interfaith dialogue after King Abdullah. But critics include a number of Austrian politicians as well as liberal Muslims, who accuse the center's organizers of plotting to spread radical Islam. Saudi Arabia has already invested millions in building mosques in south-eastern Europe.

Image: picture alliance/dpa
Skip next section DW's Top Story

DW's Top Story

Skip next section More stories from DW