Austria's anti-terror laws are turning journalism about Palestine into a crime

The case of the Palestinian journalist Mustafa Ayyash shows how Austria's expanding use of anti-terror legislation is blurring the line between journalism, political expression and alleged support for, or membership of, a proscribed organisation. Ayyash, the founder of the news network Gaza Now, has been held in pre-trial detention in Austria since November 2025 . His case raises broader questions about how provisions of the Austrian criminal code are being interpreted and applied in relation to Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza .