This forms part of CAGE’s report Operation Luxor: Unravelling the myths behind Austria's largest ever peacetime police raids
Download the report here
View the rest of the project at our report hub here
Hamza’s reminder to him that this was the very justification used by the Nazis in the country decades earlier fell on deaf ears. One officer responded with lyrics from the Bob Dylan song: “The times they are a-changing”
Dr. Hamza is a well-regarded academic within Austria and abroad, specialising in Islamophobia. He previously had had no major issues with police in Austria - so much so that in less turbulent times, he had once been invited by the BVT as an expert adviser himself on issues pertaining racism. But that has changed as the situation in the country has grown more tense for Muslims.
One officer sang “The times they are a-changing”
On the day of Operation Luxor, he was woken by strange noises outside his home at 5am. He expected to encounter burglars, perhaps. Instead, he was confronted with heavily-armed officers at the front door aiming guns at him. The armed officers burst into the home so loudly that they were heard by neighbours down the road. They took away mobile phones and data devices, and demanded that Hamza stand against the wall. The officers refused to show any search warrants despite Hamza requesting it of them 15 times. When confronted by Hamza as to why they were doing this, they simply deferred, saying “We bear no responsibility”. Hamza’s reminder to him that this was the very justification used by the Nazis in the country decades earlier fell on deaf ears. One officer responded with lyrics from the Bob Dylan song: “The times they are a-changing” Hamza and his wife sent their children back into a room to read a book during the raid, and Hamza's wife tried to calm the children. They now suffer from sleep disorders, and are in therapy to deal with the aftermath of the raids. But the woman officer who was supposedly responsible for taking care of children was even more unpleasant than the other police officers. As the raid was nearing its end, another officer taunted Hamza’s wife, telling her that "It could be much worse.".
Home is no longer a place of solace
After the raid, Hamza and his family were left to clean up the mess left behind: broken glass, broken doors, and more. Yet the emotional damage has persisted long after the physical had been dealt with. Hamza and his family no longer find solace in their home. Hamza could not sleep for two months after the raid and all the positive associations he had with his home have been torn apart. In February, when Hamza finally got access to the allegations against him, he learnt that he had continued to be monitored for months after the raid. For the most part, Hamza’s immediate friends and associates have been helpful - paying visits and lending material support where they could. With his devices and bank account frozen, Hamza was forced to borrow from his friends to get by, which he found difficult, and at times overwhelming.
Decided to leave Austria to seek a better life
Yet Hamza feels that politically, he and his family were left to shoulder the burden alone. This was compounded by the fact that some of his friends were themselves subject to raids as part of the operation as well, and one neighbour who chose to spread rumours about Hamza. However, many people were supportive of the family, especially the children. Hamza had sensed that the situation for Muslims in Austria had been deteriorating. He thinks that there is a chance that in the next ten years it will become even more untenable for Muslims. He resents the close connection between the security apparatuses and the Muslim community, highlighting how other religious communities in Austria are not subject to such surveillance. For himself and his family, the idea of leaving Austria has become more compelling: he feels it is impossible for him to rebuild a life in the country and has thus left the country. Images used courtesy of Unsplash/Gery Wibowo
<h4 class="fusion-responsive-typography-calculated" style="text-align: center;" data-fontsize="18" data-lineheight="23.94px">This forms part of CAGE’s report <em>Operation Luxor: Unravelling the myths behind Austria's largest ever peacetime police raids</em></h4>
<h4 class="fusion-responsive-typography-calculated" style="text-align: center;" data-fontsize="18" data-lineheight="23.94px">Download the report <a href="https://www.cage.ngo/product/operation-luxor-unravelling-the-myths-behind-austrias-largest-ever-peacetime-police-raids-report">here</a></h4>
<h4 class="fusion-responsive-typography-calculated" style="text-align: center;" data-fontsize="18" data-lineheight="23.94px">View the rest of the project at our report hub <a href="https://www.cage.ngo/operation-luxor-report">here</a></h4>
<hr />
<blockquote><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hamza’s reminder to him that this was the very justification used by the Nazis in the country decades earlier fell on deaf ears. One officer responded with lyrics from the Bob Dylan song: “The times they are a-changing”</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr. Hamza is a well-regarded academic within Austria and abroad, specialising in Islamophobia. He previously had had no major issues with police in Austria - so much so that in less turbulent times, he had once been invited by the BVT as an expert adviser himself on issues pertaining racism.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">But that has changed as the situation in the country has grown more tense for Muslims. </span>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">One officer sang “The times they are a-changing”</span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">On the day of Operation Luxor, he was woken by strange noises outside his home at 5am. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">He expected to encounter burglars, perhaps. Instead, he was confronted with heavily-armed officers at the front door aiming guns at him.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The armed officers burst into the home so loudly that they were heard by neighbours down the road. They took away mobile phones and data devices, and demanded that Hamza stand against the wall. </span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The officers refused to show any search warrants despite Hamza requesting it of them 15 times. When confronted by Hamza as to why they were doing this, they simply deferred, saying “We bear no responsibility”. </span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Hamza’s reminder to him that this was the very justification used by the Nazis in the country decades earlier fell on deaf ears. One officer responded with lyrics from the Bob Dylan song: “The times they are a-changing”</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Hamza and his wife sent their children back into a room to read a book during the raid, and Hamza's wife tried to calm the children. They now suffer from sleep disorders, and are in therapy to deal with the aftermath of the raids.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">But the woman officer who was supposedly responsible for taking care of children was even more unpleasant than the other police officers. </span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">As the raid was nearing its end, another officer taunted Hamza’s wife, telling her that "It could be much worse.".</span>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Home is no longer a place of solace</span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">After the raid, Hamza and his family were left to clean up the mess left behind: broken glass, broken doors, and more. Yet the emotional damage has persisted long after the physical had been dealt with. </span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Hamza and his family no longer find solace in their home. Hamza could not sleep for two months after the raid and all the positive associations he had with his home have been torn apart.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">In February, when Hamza finally got access to the allegations against him, he learnt that he had continued to be monitored for months after the raid.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">For the most part, Hamza’s immediate friends and associates have been helpful - paying visits and lending material support where they could. With his devices and bank account frozen, Hamza was forced to borrow from his friends to get by, which he found difficult, and at times overwhelming. </span>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Decided to leave Austria to seek a better life </span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Yet Hamza feels that politically, he and his family were left to shoulder the burden alone.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">This was compounded by the fact that some of his friends were themselves subject to raids as part of the operation as well, and one neighbour who chose to spread rumours about Hamza.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">However, many people were supportive of the family, especially the children.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Hamza had sensed that the situation for Muslims in Austria had been deteriorating. He thinks that there is a chance that in the next ten years it will become even more untenable for Muslims.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">He resents the close connection between the security apparatuses and the Muslim community, highlighting how other religious communities in Austria are not subject to such surveillance.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">For himself and his family, the idea of leaving Austria has become more compelling: he feels it is impossible for him to rebuild a life in the country and has thus left the country.</span>
<em>Images used courtesy of Unsplash/<a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/Eti6ph51H4A">Gery Wibowo</a></em>
