Austria Halts Family Reunifications Amid Immigration Concerns

The new Austrian government has temporarily halted family reunifications for asylum seekers, citing national security concerns due to an overwhelming influx of people. Critics view the move as a human rights violation. The freeze follows a parliamentary election that brought the far-right Freedom Party to prominence.

In a move that has stirred controversy, Austria's newly formed government has announced an immediate suspension of family reunifications for asylum seekers, citing national security concerns. The announcement followed significant election gains for the far-right Freedom Party, which spotlighted immigration issues during their campaign.

The coalition government, under Chancellor Christian Stocker of the centre-right People's Party, invoked EU emergency provisions to justify the temporary freeze. Stocker remarked that Austria's capacity to accommodate more people is stretched to its limits, a stance criticized by human rights advocates as a violation of international law.

Critics, including Amnesty International's Austria head Shoura Hashemi, condemned the government's action as an alarming breach. Meanwhile, recent incidents tied to Islamist extremism, such as a fatal stabbing by a Syrian asylum seeker, have exacerbated public concern over immigration policies.

(With inputs from agencies.)