Austria has punished several of its citizens who were in Zagreb at a recent concert by Marko Perković Thompson, known for glorifying Ustaša ideology, the Zagreb portal 24 sata reported, citing unnamed sources.
According to the report, several people were fined because investigative bodies determined that they violated strict Austrian laws related to illegal chants and symbols.
“In the area of criminal investigation, Austrian authorities have the possibility, under certain conditions, to conduct an investigation outside the country’s borders. This is established in Austrian criminal law,” the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior told 24 sata, adding that they could not provide any information about cooperation with foreign authorities or specific circumstances.
Media recently reported that Austrian investigative bodies are reviewing all available footage and photos from the recent Thompson concert held at the Zagreb Hippodrome.
According to the organizers, more than 18,000 tickets were sold in Austria for the concert, which was attended by, as announced, more than half a million people.
This reaction from the Austrian authorities should not be unexpected, as Austria amended a law back in 2018 to expand the list of prohibited symbols, which now includes symbols of the Ustaša movement and the NDH.
Such symbols are now equated with the symbols of extremist and terrorist organizations like ISIL and Al-Qaeda, and their promotion and display constitute a serious violation of Austrian laws.
Austria has previously shown a clear stance towards all manifestations of extremism.
The Internal Affairs Committee of the Austrian parliament has already made a decision requesting the Minister of the Interior to ban gatherings in Bleiburg, where sympathizers of the Ustaša regime have been coming for years, often dressed in black uniforms and using prohibited greetings and symbols.
Marko Perković Thompson is known for glorifying Ustaša ideology in his songs and performances, where he often shouts “Za dom spremni,” the official greeting in the Nazi-aligned Independent State of Croatia, which is considered the equivalent of the Nazi “Sieg Heil” chant.
Thompson’s concerts have so far been banned in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Slovenia, countries that describe him as a promoter of neo-Nazism and Ustaša ideology.
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Source: Euronews; Photo: Reuters / Antonio Bronic