100 euro fine

Muslim shouted at police officer over prayer rug

Symbolic image(Bild: canberk - stock.adobe.com)

A Muslim man living in Salzburg has to pay a fine of 100 euros because he behaved aggressively towards police officers. The outburst of anger had a religious reason: a female officer inadvertently stepped on his prayer mat.

This case, which even went to court, involved "loud shouting", a carpet and a 100 euro fine. What happened? On October 8, 2023, two police patrols drove to an apartment in the morning. The reason for the operation was a verbal altercation, as stated in the ruling by the Salzburg Provincial Administrative Court.

Feet on prayer rug
The officers encountered several people there, including a devout Muslim. A mishap occurred: a female inspector stepped onto the man's prayer mat with her feet.

This sent him into a rage: he "completely lost it", shouted at the officers and waved his hands around gesticulating. "He obviously felt that his religious feelings had been hurt and disrespected, and expressed this by shouting loudly," the court explained. The officers repeatedly asked him to calm down - to no avail.

Even if he felt his religious feelings had been hurt, this did not justify his shouting and gesticulating behavior.

Aus der Entscheidung des Landesverwaltungsgerichtes

Because he behaved "aggressively" towards police officers, weeks later he received a 100-euro fine - in accordance with §82 of the Security Police Act. The person concerned lodged an appeal against this fine with the court and asked for the fine to be waived - in vain. In addition to the 100 euros, he has to pay 20 euros in legal costs.