The largest dsmonstration in recent months held by the protest movement "Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West" (PEGIDA) was held yesterday in Dresden, where more than 18 thousand people protested against the unrestricted flow of Muslim refugees to Germany.
The evening also saw a record number of meetings of PEGIDA's opponents throughout Germany. People also came out in Berlin, Cologne, Stuttgart, Muenster and Hamburg.
Cologne’s landmark cathedral turned off the lights to protest against a PEGIDA rally, as well did the automaker Volkswagen’s manufacturing plant in Dresden.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized the activities of anti-Islamic movements: "In Germany we have political repression again.But there is no place for bullying and insults to those who come to us from other countries," she warned, urging German citizens not to participate in meetings of PEGIDA.
According to Trend, about 4 million Muslims are living in Germany now, or 5% of the overall population. About 65% of them are Sunnis, 7% - Shias, 13% - Alawites. There are only about 6 thousand salafis in the country.
