The annual Advent wreath blessing was “banished” from the Sattledt elementary school to the local parish church. Reason: Apparently one does not want to have the Advent wreath blessing any more in the school, “so that the Muslim children are not disturbed”. A few days before the First Sunday in Advent there is lots of turmoil in the tranquil community of Sattledt in Upper Austria. The school management of the elementary school Sattledt has moved the traditional Advent wreath blessing in the school hall to the parish hall. The Muslim pupils should not be disturbed by the wreath blessing, a retired religion teacher reported to angry parents, who now exclusively informed the weekly “Wochenblick”. The teacher could not understand the reason at all. From his own experience, the retired teacher knew that the Muslim children never felt disturbed by it. So far, the pupils have been asked “whether they would like to take part or not, as at school services”. For those who did not want to be there, supervision was set up. He positively mentioned the Muslim religion teacher of the elementary school. The Freedom Party’s council member Benjamin Haim is horrified by the situation: “To expel the Advent wreath blessing from the school auditorium is the completely wrong way and absolutely unacceptable. It would be better to celebrate Christian festivals together in order to bring our beautiful, native culture and identity closer to the Muslim children. After all, we live in Austria! The school management was not available for a statement to the weekly Wochenblick. A representative, however, confirmed that the wreath blessing would not take place in the school auditorium this year.

wochenblick.at/wegen-muslime-adventkranzsegnung-aus-volkschule-vertrieben/