Dresden, located in Saxony, Germany, a federal state that finds itself in the back row compared to other German states, aspires to be the cause of shame for the country. A group in Dresden that gathers every Monday, and whose members are increasing day by day, seems determined to undermine the international image of Germany. This group, called Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the Occident (PEGIDA), deters those wishing to invest in Germany and especially in Saxony, and has already become the symbol of "intellectual racism."
For those who meet on Mondays in Dresden to "prevent Germany's subjugation to Islam," Dresden is actually one of the leading cities in which such a "threat" cannot be considered. The overall Muslim population in Dresden is 0.4 percent, which means that the locals of Dresden gathering under the auspices of PEGIDA probably do not come across a single Muslim in the course of their daily lives. But still, they are worried about Dresden's subjugation to Islam. Of course, all the people marching every Monday with increasing numbers are not from Dresden. PEGIDA brings together many people from different groups and different regions of Germany under the same roof. Skinheads, radical right racists and neo-Nazis who were only a handful of people on their own against Islam or Turks until recently, do not need such organizations anymore. Taking part in PEGIDA demonstrations serves their purposes now. Some Germans, who had problems with the country's central parties, chose to boycott the elections and reacted against reforms of the EU, euro, refugees, immigrants and dual citizenship. They could not join the demonstrations of racists before because it was not acceptable to be seen with skinheads.
But now there is PEGIDA. And it is not regarded as inappropriate by some to join their Monday demonstrations to say "we do not want Muslims in Germany," or "the refugees must depart," with the slogans and banners that are expressed in a style different from the racists. The skinheads used to stir up trouble during their protests, but PEGIDA takes all kinds of measures to prevent possible trouble. Skinheads used to represent an image that terrified people, while PEGIDA now achieves the same sentiments as skinheads by appearing non-threatening and without aggressive language.
Skinheads used to say, "Refugees, Turks and foreigners, get out!" Now PEGIDA says, "We do not want refugees and foreigners here, they had better depart."
PEGIDA is attentive to represent their propaganda with racist content without being labelled racist in Germany. This makes it easier for them to reach larger masses and mobilize them. And it is working.
The party Alternative for Germany (AFD), which is already represented in German parliament, consisting of the former Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) and Free Democratic Party (FDP) members, and known for its opposition to the euro, is now developing unity of action with PEGIDA. And when some circles that blindly support all the unacceptable policies of Israel and hate Palestinians and Arabs with a Zionist perspective are added to them, the coalition agrees on an opposition to Islam. Of course, those who do not wish to see Turkey in the EU, and believe the nonsense that "Europe is a continent of Christians" are in this picture. Among the politicians of Christian democratic parties, the number of those inclined to appreciate PEGIDA and the contents it defends is increasing. PEGIDA exploits certain issues for their anti-Islam campaign such as the bloody propaganda of terrorist organizations such as the ISIS and the existence of the Salafists who do not constitute a big problem for Germany's security units, where racist attacks against mosques have increased. PEGIDA has not issued a single statement of condemnation for the attacks against mosques in Sweden, Germany and Austria. This new intellectual racism is an unacceptable phenomenon in terms of EU values.
It is also a dangerous movement in terms of the German economy. If people boycott German commodities due to PEGIDA, some citizens on the street supporting PEGIDA would not be glad to hear it.
It is crucial for the future of the EU that all the democrats living in the EU should develop an attitude against PEGIDA.
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