Prominent Germans condemn anti-Islam rallies

Politicians and celebrities in Germany have joined a media campaign calling for an end to what they see as rising xenophobia, a day after thousands of people held rival rallies across the country
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PEGIDA FACTFILE

German acronym for Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West

Founded in Dresden by activist Lutz Bachmann in October 2014. Bachmann has criminal record for offences including burglary and drug crimes

Umbrella group for extreme right, attracts support from mainstream conservatives to neo-Nazi groups and football hooligans

Stages weekly street protests against what it sees as dangerous rise in influence of Islam over Germany and elsewhere in Europe due to immigration policies

19-point manifesto demands stricter immigration controls, as well as enforced “integration” for foreigners and immediate deportation for “criminal asylum seekers”

January 5: Main demonstrations

Pro-Pegida

Anti-Pegida

Hamburg

GERMANY

Muenster

Berlin: 5,000 block 400 Pegida supporters from marching

Cologne: Cathedral lights switched off in protest at Pegida – whose supporters are outnumbered by around 10 to one

SAXONY

Kassel

Dresden: 18,000 Pegida supporters attend rally. Counter-demonstration attracts 3,000 people

Würzburg

Stuttgart

Munich

100km 60 miles
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Source: Wire agencies

Picture: Associated Press

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