Dresden

Given that Turks represent the majority of Muslims in Germany, it is not surprising that the activities of the group known as PEGIDA, the German acronym for ?Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the Occident,? should be attracting attention in Turkey.

Supporters and opponents of a group campaigning against what it perceives as "Islamisation" of Europe have held rival rallies across Germany on Monday night.

Thousands of Germans demonstrated in four cities Jan. 5 in opposition to the weekly rallies in Dresden against the perceived "Islamization of the West," which have attracted growing numbers of supporters.
     

One German in eight would join an anti-Muslim march if a rapidly-growing protest movement organized one in their home towns, according to an opinion poll published on Jan. 1.
   

A Turkish community leader in Germany warned Dec. 28 against proposals by mainstream politicians for "dialogue" with a far-right populist movement that has drawn thousands to anti-Islamic street protests.
      

Hatred toward the “other” has never been so causal, abundant and widespread.

Business leaders, the political class and average Germans are pushing back against a growing anti-immigrant movement, saying it threatens the values and image the country fought hard to establish since the war.

At counter-demonstrations and on social media, opponents have mobilised against the far-right group which claims Germany is being overrun by Islamic extremists.        

A record 17,000 anti-Islamic protesters rallied for their tenth demonstration in as many weeks Dec. 22 in eastern Germany, celebrating the rise of their far-right populist movement by singing Christmas carols.

A record 15,000 people marched Monday in eastern Germany against "asylum cheats" and the country's "Islamization" in the latest show of strength of a growing far-right populist movement.
      

German Chancellor Angela Merkel Dec. 15 condemned a wave of protests against immigrants, asylum seekers and the "Islamization" of the country and warned Germans not to be "exploited" by extremists.