Detail News
31.03.2026
DPI Director Fellhofer in an Standard interview: Divisions and the consequences of the Iran war
The debate in recent years surrounding political Islam shows that the issue is particularly emotional and fraught with conflict due to its connection to religion and identity. In a recent interview with the daily newspaper Der Standard, Lisa Fellhofer, Director of the Documentation Centre Political Islam (DPI), spoke about this and current issues such as the ongoing war in Iran and its impact on Europe. In conversation with editor Fabian Schmid, she explained that a split along ideological lines could be observed within the Iranian community in Austria, which had recently culminated in physical violence.
Another topic was the growing influence of Islamist influencers, who have achieved a wide reach, particularly since the Hamas massacre on 7 October 2023. They skilfully exploit political conflicts and social issues to spread their religiously extremist ideology. According to DPI Director Fellhofer, a social media ban for minors could help to better address this challenge, as no effective solution has yet been found with the platforms. She also emphasised in the interview that a fundamental aim should be to raise awareness of the strengths of liberal democracy once again.
Read the full interview here: "Gipfelte in Schlägerei": Iran-Krieg auch in Wien spürbar, warnt Chefin von Dokustelle
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