GERMAN FM REJECTS PRACTICES OF ANTI-MUSLIM MOVEMENT

German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Photo: AFP)" width="369" height="207" /> German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Photo: IINA/AFP)

Berlin, 3 Rabiul Awwal 1436/25 December 2014 (MINA) – German Foreign Minister has rejected the practices of the Patriotic Europeans Against Islamization of the West (PEGIDA) movement, which promotes violence against Muslims and foreigners in Germany.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday that “the overwhelming majority of Germans believe that people should find refuge with us due to the civil war,” International Islamic News Agency (IINA) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

He said: “Now sympathy and solidarity is needed.” He added “it is important that we stand up for open society with conviction, passion and reason.”

One of the reasons why people participated in the demonstrations organized by PEGIDA, the foreign minister said, “Yes, I can understand that the disorder in the world makes many people scared. But the answer cannot be isolation and incitement.

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In Dresden, police said on Monday around 17,500 people participated in demonstrations initiated by PEGIDA against foreigners and “Islamization of the West”. Meanwhile, the same city saw counter demonstration involved about 4,500 people, who raised anti-Nazis slogans, warning at the same time against racism and xenophobia in the country.

Also, more than 20,000 people took to streets in several German cities in protests against the PEGIDA movement. (T/P011/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)

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