Closure of Controversial King Abdullah Center in Vienna Decided

OrganizationsInternational Organizations ♦ Published: June 13, 2019; 15:15 ♦ (Vindobona)

The Austrian National Council has decided to close the King Abdullah Centre in Vienna. The KAICIID - King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, which is largely financed by Saudi Arabia, has long been controversial. The imminent death sentence of 18-year-old Murtaja Qureiris in Saudi Arabia was the immediate cause. The majority decision of parliament must now be implemented by the Foreign Ministry under Alexander Schallenberg. The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) spoke out in favour of a new centre under the auspices of the UN.

The KAICIID - King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue at Schottenring 21, 1010 Vienna. / Picture: © Wikimedia Commons / Thomas Ledl [CC BY-SA 3.0]

During the first National Council meeting of the new government under Brigitte Bierlein it was decided to close the King Abdullah Centre in Vienna.

The proposal was submitted by the Liste JETZT.

Peter Pilz pointed out the fate of a Saudi youth who was now facing the death penalty due to his participation in a street demonstration at the age of ten.

The motion for…