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January 13, 2015

Record 25,000 Join Anti-Islam Rally in Germany; 100,000 Join Counter-Protests 
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In Germany, a record 25,000 people joined an anti-Islam rally in the
city of Dresden. The far-right group Pegida has held weekly rallies
against Islam, but Monday's was the largest to date. Some marchers
carried sign that read "Je suis Charlie," in purported solidarity with
the Charlie Hebdo victims. The anti-Islam movement appears to be
spreading after last week's attacks, with hundreds rallying in Oslo,
Norway, Monday and more actions planned in Austria and Switzerland. But
across Germany, an estimated 100,000 people joined counter-protests
against Islamophobia, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for
unity.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel: "I would like to add that our former
president, Christian Wulff, said that Islam belongs to Germany. This is
true. I share this view. That's why we are doing everything we can to
make integration a success."

Merkel attended Sunday's rally in Paris and is expected to attend a
rally today in Berlin organized by Muslim groups to denounce both
terrorism and intolerance.

 

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