Austria’s president was forced to intervene after the first baby born in the country in 2018 was subjected to online abuse when it emerged the new-born’s parents were Muslim.
President Alexander Van der Bellen on Saturday welcomed baby girl, Asel, when she was born in the early hours of New Year’s Day in Vienna.
“Welcome, Dear Asel!” Van der Bellen wrote in a , adding to those who left abusive messages that “all men are born free and equal in dignity and rights,” and speaking out against “hatred and agitation.”
After being named “the first Viennese baby” of the year, with her photo appearing in local media — her mother, who was wearing a hijab, alongside her father, baby Asel Tamga received hundreds of Islamophobic comments on social media.
“I’m hoping for a cot death,” one user wrote on Heute news’ Facebook page, it reported.
Austrian president defends country’s New Year baby from Islamophobic abuse
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