DDHK News, Germany - The anti-Islam movement in Germany, Pegida, is considered a disgrace that tarnishes the image of tolerance in this country. But in eastern Germany, this movement is growing in support. On the other hand, the anti-Pegida action also multiplies.
The city of Dresden in eastern Germany remains a major stronghold of the anti-Islam and anti-foreigners movement as a whole. In the demonstration that was held Monday (05/01) night, a record 18.000 participants were reached.
The series of anti-Islamic protests in Germany are allegedly driven by the extreme right or known as NeoNazi and other political parties which are also known to be anti-foreigners.
It is also suspected that some of the participants in the anti-Islamic and anti-foreigner demonstration in Dresden actually did not know exactly what the aim of the action was. A number of retirees also appeared to be present in the action.
They said they were protesting the injustice regarding the amount of pension they received, which was considered to be greater, if Germany did not fulfill its humanitarian obligations by accepting refugees or asylum applicants.
At least 50 top politicians and well-known German figures have condemned the actions of a group calling itself the patriotic of Europe to prevent the Islamization of Germany and Europe-Pegida as a disgrace that tarnishes the image of German tolerance and is only a provocation of hatred against foreigners.
Chairman of the German Migration Council, Werner Schiffauer, emphasized that the picture of migrants carried by Pegida members does not correspond to reality and is distorted.
Resistance movement
On the other hand, in various cities in western Germany, it was the anti-Pegida movement that had grown more and more supporters. In the city of Cologne, for example, hundreds of Pegida supporters met with resistance from thousands of residents and churches.
Regarding the Köln Cathedral, which was supposed to be a venue for demonstrations of the anti-Islam movement at night, the lights were turned off. The presence of thousands of anti-Pegida citizens prompted the anti-Islam group to cancel its planned protest action.
In Berlin, anti-Pegida residents prevented a demonstration of about 300 members of an anti-Islam group that wanted to hold an action at the Brandenburg Gate. Also in Dresden some 4.000 people who opposed the anti-Islam demonstration took to the streets. In the city of Rostock as well as an area in eastern Germany, hundreds of residents participated in an anti-Pegida action.
The action of turning off the lighting was also carried out by the Volkswagen automotive factory in Dreseden. The lighting in the building which was nicknamed the glass palace was deliberately turned off so that when Pegida's action was held it was dark. Similar actions such as in the city of Cologne with the motto "Licht aus für Rassismus" or turn off the lights for racism, as a symbol against anti-foreigners action, racism and discrimination. (rtr / afp /dw.de). *
