01 February 2016
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Far-right protests organised by various branches of the PEGIDA movement took place in cities across Europe at the weekend. On 6 February in Prague, a centre that helps refugees was firebombed, "just hours after thousands of people staged a protest in the Czech capital against Muslims and immigration."
CZECH REPUBLIC: Prague Refugee Center Fire-Bombed After Anti-Muslim Protests (Radio Free Europe, link): "Czech police say a group of about 20 unknown attackers set fire to a center that helps refugees in Prague on February 6, just hours after thousands of people staged a protest in the Czech capital against Muslims and immigration.
The attackers stormed the Klinika center that organized a collection of clothing for refugees, and threw Molotov cocktails. Authorities say at least one person was injured in the attack."
FRANCE: Clashes in Calais as anti-migrant Pegida calls for protests across Europe (France 24, link): "Anti-migrant protesters in the French port city of Calais Saturday clashed with police as they defied a ban and rallied in support of a Europe-wide initiative by the Islamophobic Pegida movement.
Around 150 protesters gathered in central Calais carrying signs such as “This is our home,” waving the French flag and singing the French national anthem, an AFP correspondent at the scene reported." And: Ex-French army commander faces jail over anti-Islam rally (The Local, link)
GERMANY: Dresden tolerance rally goes ahead as PEGIDA marches take place across Europe (Deutsche Welle, link): "The German state of Saxony's deputy premier was among those who marched through the eastern German city calling for tolerance on Saturday, in defiance of the anti-immigration movement that held a larger demonstration on the other side of the Elbe River."
IRELAND: Hundreds rally in Dublin against racist Pegida group (An Phoblacht, link): "HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE took part in an anti-racist rally on Dublin's O'Connell Street today as the far-right Pegida group unsuccessfully attempted to hold an anti-Islam rally in the same area."
NETHERLANDS: 20 arrests as tensions rise at Amsterdam Pegida rally (Dutch News, link): "Battalions of riot police kept a protest organised by anti-Islam organisation Pegida at a standstill in Amsterdam on Saturday afternoon, as tension mounted between Pegida supporters and anti-fascist groups. In total, some 20 people were arrested, all of whom were released by Sunday morning. The gathering coincided with similar protests organised by Pegida in several European cities on Saturday, including Dublin, London, and Prague."
POLAND: PEGIDA Poland: 'Muslims are not part of our culture' (Deutsche Welle, link): "Wroclaw was set to become the second Polish venue of PEGIDA's Europe-wide day of action, but the demonstration was canceled because PEGIDA is apparently too German for Polish nationalists."
A "wash-out first event" in Birmingham, UK: MP attacks Pegida UK plans to return to Birmingham every month for protests (Birmingham Mail, link): "THE leader of anti-Islamic Pegida UK has vowed to return to Birmingham once every month for protests - despite a wash-out first event.
Former EDL head Tommy Robinson announced his group would come back to the city on the first Saturday in April and then each month thereafter, during a speech to supporters yesterday."
Overview: Anti-Islam movement PEGIDA stages protests across Europe (Reuters, link): "Germany's anti-Islam PEGIDA movement staged rallies in several cities across Europe on Saturday to protest against the arrival of hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Middle East and Africa."
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