In Germany, a record 25,000 people joined an anti-Islam rally in the city of Dresden. The far-right group Pegida has held weekly rallies against Islam, but Monday’s was the largest to date. Some marchers carried sign that read “Je suis Charlie,” in purported solidarity with the Charlie Hebdo victims. The anti-Islam movement appears to be spreading after last week’s attacks, with hundreds rallying in Oslo, Norway, Monday and more actions planned in Austria and Switzerland. But across Germany, an estimated 100,000 people joined counter-protests against Islamophobia, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for unity.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel: “I would like to add that our former president, Christian Wulff, said that Islam belongs to Germany. This is true. I share this view. That’s why we are doing everything we can to make integration a success.”
Merkel attended Sunday’s rally in Paris and is expected to attend a rally today in Berlin organized by Muslim groups to denounce both terrorism and intolerance.