Austria: Out of consideration for Muslims? Pupils have to do without carnival doughnuts

Parents of pupils at a secondary school (NMS) were probably more than irritated when they were told that their children would have to do without the doughnuts they were supposed to receive as a reward for taking part in the carnival parade.
Specifically, it is about the NMS Haid (Linz-Land district): This school informed parents that the doughnuts would be donated to a kindergarten and a retirement home. However, the school is also referring to Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, which began yesterday, Saturday.
As reported by the newspaper Kronen Zeitung, however, the school’s approach is anything but usual, with the mayor of the municipality of Haid bei Ansfelden saying: ‘This is the first time I have heard that the doughnuts are being passed on. In fact, the municipality, which procured the doughnuts – more than 1,000 of them – had even asked how many pupils the pastries were to be bought for.
As in so many other schools in the country, a large proportion of the pupils at NMS Haid are of foreign origin and of Muslim faith. Many parents therefore fear that the school’s announcement was made out of consideration for the many Muslim pupils. The response from headmistress Anita Jovic: only sweets that are left over will be passed on.

However, Jovic also received numerous messages from the parents of Muslim pupils who did not want their children to take part in the carnival parade. This is also tolerated, she says, and extra teachers are even assigned to deal with the Muslims during the parade.
Dealing with customs and traditions is always a controversial topic, especially in schools with many immigrant pupils. The Freedom Party takes a clear stance on the issue and repeatedly speaks out in favour of upholding local traditions – and ultimately also in favour of carnival doughnuts.

Aus Rücksicht auf Moslems? Schüler müssen auf Faschingskrapfen verzichten – Unzensuriert