Wilders' speech fails to make PEGIDA rally a success

Organizers of the PEGIDA demonstration were expecting more than 30,000 supporters to be present at an anti-immigration rally on Monday in Dresden. Instead, only a little more than 7,000 people made to the protest march, despite Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders (pictured above, right) holding a speech and pledging loyalty to the anti-Islamization movement.

Speaking in German, Wilders praised PEGIDA supporters, calling them "heroes," because they defended Western culture. Wilders, who is openly against Islam, said the religion did not belong to Germany.

The Dutch politician spoke for 25 minutes before leaving the venue for the airport.

Earlier, leaders belonging to the Social Democrats (SPD), the leftist party Die Linke and the Greens, including students and members of foreigners' councils, organized protest marches in Dresden calling for "Diversity instead of narrow-mindedness."

An administrative court in Dresden, however, prohibited anti-PEGIDA protesters from demonstrating within view or earshot of Wilders' venue. Earlier on Monday, activists of the anti-Nazi union Dresden Nazifrei had requested permission to hold a rally in the city. Judges argued the Dresden Nazifrei rally was intended to hinder PEGIDA protesters.

PEGIDA, an abbreviation of "Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West," is a group of people who believe European culture and values are under threat because of increasing immigration from Islamic countries.

mg/rc (dpa, epd)