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| Germany Pegida protests: 'Islamisation' rallies denounced | Germany Pegida protests: 'Islamisation' rallies denounced |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Politicians and celebrities in Germany have joined a media campaign against Pegida, a group protesting against what it sees as the "Islamisation" of Europe. | Politicians and celebrities in Germany have joined a media campaign against Pegida, a group protesting against what it sees as the "Islamisation" of Europe. |
| Former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt and retired footballer Oliver Bierhoff are among 80 figures to back a petition in German newspaper Bild. | |
| It comes after rival rallies took place across the country. | It comes after rival rallies took place across the country. |
| Some 18,000 people attended one anti-immigration rally in Dresden on Monday. | Some 18,000 people attended one anti-immigration rally in Dresden on Monday. |
| There have been weekly protests by the Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the West (Pegida) since October. | There have been weekly protests by the Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the West (Pegida) since October. |
| But counter demonstrations have sprung up, with thousands marching in Berlin, Cologne, Dresden and Stuttgart. | But counter demonstrations have sprung up, with thousands marching in Berlin, Cologne, Dresden and Stuttgart. |
| 'Hollow prejudices' | 'Hollow prejudices' |
| Figures joining the Bild appeal said "'no' to xenophobia and 'yes' to diversity and tolerance," according to the newspaper. | Figures joining the Bild appeal said "'no' to xenophobia and 'yes' to diversity and tolerance," according to the newspaper. |
| Pegida "appeals to hollow prejudices, xenophobia and intolerance," wrote former Social Democrat Chancellor Helmut Schmidt. | Pegida "appeals to hollow prejudices, xenophobia and intolerance," wrote former Social Democrat Chancellor Helmut Schmidt. |
| "A look at our past and economic sense tells us Germany should not spurn refugees and asylum-seekers," he added. | "A look at our past and economic sense tells us Germany should not spurn refugees and asylum-seekers," he added. |
| Another former Chancellor, Gerhard Schroder, also voiced concerns, along with actress Karoline Herfurth, who appeared in The Reader, and TV presenter Thomas Gottschalk. | |
| Police said some 5,000 counter-demonstrators blocked hundreds of Pegida supporters from marching along their planned route in Berlin on Monday. | Police said some 5,000 counter-demonstrators blocked hundreds of Pegida supporters from marching along their planned route in Berlin on Monday. |
| A total of 22,000 anti-Pegida demonstrators rallied in Stuttgart, Muenster and Hamburg, according to the DPS news agency. | A total of 22,000 anti-Pegida demonstrators rallied in Stuttgart, Muenster and Hamburg, according to the DPS news agency. |
| Lights out | Lights out |
| In Cologne, the authorities switched off the lights of the city's cathedral as a way of warning Pegida supporters they were supporting "extremists". | In Cologne, the authorities switched off the lights of the city's cathedral as a way of warning Pegida supporters they were supporting "extremists". |
| "We don't think of it as a protest, but we would like to make the many conservative Christians [who support Pegida] think about what they are doing," the dean of the cathedral, Norbert Feldhoff, told the BBC. | "We don't think of it as a protest, but we would like to make the many conservative Christians [who support Pegida] think about what they are doing," the dean of the cathedral, Norbert Feldhoff, told the BBC. |
| Only about 250 Pegida supporters showed up in Cologne, compared with thousands of counter-demonstrators. | Only about 250 Pegida supporters showed up in Cologne, compared with thousands of counter-demonstrators. |
| Much of the city centre was also plunged into darkness as lights were switched off at major buildings and bridges across the Rhine, according to the news agency DPA. | Much of the city centre was also plunged into darkness as lights were switched off at major buildings and bridges across the Rhine, according to the news agency DPA. |
| "Today, there is really a democratic sign being sent and a lot of people in Cologne are expressing their opinion," said Cologne mayor Juergen Roters. | "Today, there is really a democratic sign being sent and a lot of people in Cologne are expressing their opinion," said Cologne mayor Juergen Roters. |
| "They want to stress that we here in Cologne do not want to have anything to do with right-wing extremists and xenophobic people." | "They want to stress that we here in Cologne do not want to have anything to do with right-wing extremists and xenophobic people." |
| In Dresden, carmaker Volkswagen said it was also keeping its manufacturing plant dark to show that the company "stands for an open, free and democratic society." | In Dresden, carmaker Volkswagen said it was also keeping its manufacturing plant dark to show that the company "stands for an open, free and democratic society." |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel attacked the movement in her new year speech, saying its leaders have "prejudice, coldness, even hatred in their hearts". | German Chancellor Angela Merkel attacked the movement in her new year speech, saying its leaders have "prejudice, coldness, even hatred in their hearts". |
| Kathrin Oertel, one of the main organisers of Pegida, responded in a speech at the rally in Dresden. She said that there was "political repression" in Germany once again. | Kathrin Oertel, one of the main organisers of Pegida, responded in a speech at the rally in Dresden. She said that there was "political repression" in Germany once again. |
| "Or how would you see it when we are insulted or called racists or Nazis openly by all the political mainstream parties and media for our justified criticism of Germany's asylum-seeker policies and the non-existent immigration policy?" | "Or how would you see it when we are insulted or called racists or Nazis openly by all the political mainstream parties and media for our justified criticism of Germany's asylum-seeker policies and the non-existent immigration policy?" |
| What is Pegida? | What is Pegida? |
| German press mocks protest 'flop' | |
| German journalist Sigrun Rottman said it was important to note that Dresden, compared with other German cities, had very few immigrants, and even fewer Muslim residents. | German journalist Sigrun Rottman said it was important to note that Dresden, compared with other German cities, had very few immigrants, and even fewer Muslim residents. |
| Many supporters there felt "hard done-by" and unrepresented by mainstream politics and media, she added. | Many supporters there felt "hard done-by" and unrepresented by mainstream politics and media, she added. |
| A poll of just over 1,000 people carried out by Germany's Stern magazine found one in eight Germans would join an anti-Islam march if Pegida organised one near their home. | A poll of just over 1,000 people carried out by Germany's Stern magazine found one in eight Germans would join an anti-Islam march if Pegida organised one near their home. |
| Germany receives more refugees and asylum seekers than any other EU country. Many of those have come from war-torn Syria. | Germany receives more refugees and asylum seekers than any other EU country. Many of those have come from war-torn Syria. |
| Did you take part in the rallies? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Did you take part in the rallies? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. |
| Have your say | Have your say |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. |
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