Austrian president stresses equality of Muslims

Austrian President Heinz Fischer stressed again the equality of Muslims in Austria on Sunday. "The Islam in Austria is becoming a significant and increasingly important religious community," he said when addressing to the Ramadan Festival held by the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGiOe) on Sunday in Vienna, the capital. Fischer stressed the principle of separation of church and state and announced that, together with the Muslims, he was to join the celebration marking the 100-year-old recognition of the Islam in Austria in 2012. The president also said he expected the respect of Austrian legal orders. "At the same time, the Muslims have to trust that people treat them with respect," he said. IGGiOe President Fuat Sanac appealed again that everyone should strive to "end hostilities and to make friends,"pointing that the Ramadan festival had been a good opportunity to show their solidarity. The Ramadan Festival is held in the Islamic Center, the largest mosque in Austria, which have attracted some 5,000 visitors on Sunday.