Wiesenthal Center Welcomes Dismissal of Recently-Appointed Director of the Austrian Carinthian State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Combatting Terrorism

February 14, 2022

Jerusalem-The Simon Wiesenthal Center today welcomed the dismissal of Stephan Tauschitz from his post as director of the Austrian Carinthian State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Combatting Terrorism in the wake of revelations that he had attended meetings of neo-Nazi and right-wing extremists several times and had addressed such a gathering.

The Wiesenthal Center was among the first organizations to call for Tauschitz's removal from his post, or as the Center's chief Nazi-hunter, Holocaust historian Dr. Efraim Zuroff told Der Standard journalist Maria Sterkl, “It’s really scandalous, Tauschitz should be removed from his position immediately.” a response reflected in the prestigious Austrian daily’s headline  “Schock in Israel, offene Fragen in Ősterreich,” [Shock in Israel, Open Questions in Austria.”].

According to Zuroff:

“While Austria has made significant progress during the past few years in confronting its responsibility for Nazi crimes, this appointment is a step backwards. It also raises serious doubts about Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, who had made problematic statements in the past, but had repudiated them upon his appointment to the current government.”

For additional information please contact the Israel Office of the Wiesenthal Center: Tel: 972-2-563-1274 or Tel: 972-50-721-4156, follow the Center on Facebook, or @simonwiesenthal and @EZuroff for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).