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About
Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff (born 1971) is an Austrian counter-jihad and anti-Islam activist, human rights advocate, free speech proponent, and OSCE advocate. She is the co-founder of the International Civil Liberties Alliance (ICLA) and founded Pax Europa, a citizens' movement against Islamization in Europe. Before entering activism, she pursued a diplomatic career, serving at Austrian embassies in Kuwait and Libya and working in the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with her experiences in the Middle East reportedly shaping her views on Islam. She has been active in European counter-jihad networks, including consultations with figures like Robert Spencer, and leads efforts to counter Sharia influence in Europe. Sabaditsch-Wolff gained international attention through legal battles over free speech. In 2010, she was convicted in Austria of 'disparaging religious doctrines' (often described as hate speech against Islam) for statements describing the Prophet Muhammad as a pedophile; the conviction was upheld in 2011. She appealed to the European Court of Human Rights in E.S. v. Austria (2018), where the court upheld the ruling, arguing her comments were not protected under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Despite the loss, the case amplified her profile as a free speech martyr in counter-jihad circles. Her activism includes public speaking, writing, and participation in anti-Islamization initiatives across Europe. She has faced criticism for promoting Islamophobic rhetoric and contributing to far-right narratives, though she frames her work as defending secularism and women's rights against radical Islam. She remains a key figure in Austrian and European networks opposing immigration from Muslim-majority countries and advocating for stricter integration policies.