GERMAN LEADERS RALLY AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA

Berlin, 23 Rabi’ul Awwal 1436/14 January 2015 (MINA) – Offering support to the Muslim community, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced she will attend a vigil for tolerance in Berlin, in a clear message against rising anti-Islam, far-right group Pegida.

“Islam belongs to Germany,” Merkel said, speaking out against marches by Pegida in parts of the country, Agence France Presse (AFP) reported on Tuesday (13/1). On Islam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The rally was held on Tuesday afternoon at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate under the banner “Let’s be there for each other. Terror: not in our name!”

It was called by the Central Council of Muslims in Germany (ZMD), which represents 28 different Muslim organizations, and the Turkish Community of Berlin (TGB).

At the rally, German President Joachim Gauck said “we are all Germany”, sending a message of unity in the face of rising Islamophobia and last week’s attacks in Paris.

Uniting against extremism and Islamophobia, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim Gauck stopped with ZMD chairman Ayman A. Mazyek in front of the French embassy for a moment of silence.

Pegida drew a record 25,000 marchers to its 12th weekly rally in Dresden on Monday, its flag-waving members holding a minute’s silence for the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris last week.

Its latest protest was met by some 100,000 counter-demonstrators nationwide, who accused Pegida of exploiting the French attacks by Islamist gunmen, and who voiced support for a multicultural German society. (T/P006/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)