Immigration has become a hot topic in Germany this year, amid a surge in the numbers of asylum seekers, fuelled by the wars in Syria and Iraq. Germany takes in more asylum seekers than any other country. Germany expects 200,000 asylum claims for 2014, up from 127,000 in 2013. Lutz Bachmann launched the Pegida movement through a Facebook group German media report that Pegida grew out of a Facebook group launched by Lutz Bachmann, 41, a chef-turned-graphic designer. He insists that he is not racist. He has admitted to past criminal convictions, including for drug-dealing. He says he spent two years in prison. The AfD leader in Dresden, Frauke Petry, said Pegida is protesting against inadequate legislation on asylum rights - they are also demanding that German law be applied against law-breakers, and they are opposing religious extremism. The centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) - in the ruling coalition with Mrs Merkels Christian Democrats - called Pegidas organisers Nazis in pinstripes. Police sources, quoted by the Spiegel online news website, said hundreds of Pegida activists in Dresden were members of two hooligan groups regarded as far-right. Minister Maas said Pegida must be unmasked, and he called for a broad counter-movement embracing
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 05:31:39 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015