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Thousands of German citizens have participated on Monday in demonstrations against the anti-Islam movement PEGIDA.
According to German media reports, people have come out to the streets in several German cities to protest PEGIDA, whose members have been gathering nearly every Monday recently to rally against the so-called Islamization of Western countries.
In the Western German city of Cologne, PEGIDA supporters had to cancel their appearance, where thousands of demonstrators showed solidarity with migrants.
Several public and historic buildings in the city have switched off their lights as an expression of oppositions to Islamophobia and xenophobia.
Fritz Kuhn, Mayor of the city Stuttgart, expressed "pride and joy" at the large numbers of anti-PEGIDA demonstrators, saying it was a clear political message for integration and against exclusion.
"Refugees are welcome in Stuttgart," Kuhn stressed.
Germany's eastern city of Dresden witnessed Monday a strong presence of the PEGIDA movement with thousands of supporters. Meanwhile, several hundred people took part in a counter-event and offered proposals for dialogues with PEGIDA demonstrators.
In addition, citizens in Berlin, Munich and Hamburg have also gathered on the streets to voice their support for immigrants and asylum seekers.
The PEGIDA movement has been steadily growing in the number of participants as their demonstrations reach the fourth month. It fears that Germany is being overrun by immigrants who are destroying traditional German values, and is demanding stricter immigration controls.
Last year, Germany has received more refugee applications than any other country in the world, most of whom came from Syria and Iraq.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday used her New Year' s address to criticize the anti-Islam movement -- a criticism echoed by German President Joachim Gauck and other mainstream politicians.
Merkel called upon German citizens to be wary of the initiators of the movement. "Do not follow people who organize these demonstrations." Because there are often prejudice, coldness and even hatred in their hearts, she appealed.
The chancellor also promised that Germany would provide further help to those seeking refuge in her country. Enditem
