Bernhard Heinzlmaier stood calmly in front of the press, the cameras whirred, the lights were blinding, and Austria watched. However, what caught the audience's attention was not the political message, but the shirt that peeked out from under his jacket. Two runes were evident - Si(e)g and Tyr, symbols used by the Nazis in the past. But what is the real story behind the mysterious shirt?

There are several screenshots of the press conference that are heating up tempers throughout Austria. It's about the visible runes. Bernhard Heinzlmaier, who spoke with Youth State Secretary Claudia Plakolm about the conservative trends among young people, has now entered the conversation thanks to this shirt. But while his words held importance, two small details drew the main attention - the runes on his shirt.
A fact check on the rune shirt
Where does this shirt come from? What exactly could it say? What does the part hidden behind the jacket look like? Most evidence suggests that the shirt is a merchandising item from the Lower Austrian pagan metal band “ Steinalt ”.

A style of music that often uses historical symbols and stories to create deeper meaning and connection to the past. Pagan metal is a subgenre of metal characterized by its lyrics and themes, which are often inspired by pre-Christian traditions, mythologies and rites, particularly from European pagan traditions. Musically, pagan metal can contain elements from various metal subgenres such as black metal, folk metal and death metal. As far as being apolitical at this point.
Twitter: Opinions vary
The debate on Twitter is heated. Some argue that wearing such a shirt, especially at such an important event, is irresponsible, while others see it as a harmless fashion choice. The core of the debate revolves around a possible intention: was the shirt chosen consciously? What message should it send?
The runes are not considered undisputed. When it comes to symbolism, the question revolves around coincidence or intentional, forbidden or not. Sig rune, as well as the Tiwaz/Tyr rune in detail, are considered prohibited symbols in Austria according to the Prohibition and Badges Act. This federal law, which serves as the basis for the dissemination of National Socialist symbols, defines forbidden symbols. Here is an overview of the “Extremism Advice Center” in Austria.
Conclusion: One shirt, many questions
While the mystery surrounding the origin of Heinzlmaier's rune shirt has been clarified, it remains unclear for the time being whether and what intention there was when wearing the shirt. A shirt is not just a piece of fabric, it can tell a story, send a message or simply be an expression of personal taste. This fact check deliberately leaves out an interpretation at this point.

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