The German anti-Islamist group, Pegida, has opened a branch in Spain, it has claimed.
It was launched on Twitter on 8 January, the day after the deadly attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris in which 12 people were assassinated.
Pegida (“Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the Occident”) began its demonstrations last October in Germany. It is against multi-culturalism diluting Germany’s traditional culture and its targets range from Islam and asylum seekers to the media and political elite.
The Spanish branch has just over 800 followers on its Twitter page and over 2,700 likes on its Facebook page.
Its Twitter account is already following those of several far-right Spanish groups including the Falange, the nationalist party that provided the ideological basis for Francisco Franco's 1939-75 dictatorship.
"We are preparing a demonstration by Pegida Spain, where members of Pegida Germany will attend. We will publish the date on Twitter and announce it by email," the group said in an e-mail sent to AFP.
Its initial plan was for a demonstration on Monday outside Madrid's main mosque but government authorities refused permission and suggested a different location.
Spain’s 47 million inhabitants include some two million Muslims. There are around 1,000 mosques, Islamic cultural centres and prayer halls, according to the Union of Islamic Communities of Spain.
Pegida activists have said it plans to begin operations in Austria, Switzerland and Scandinavia.
Comments
Really? Are you sure you are not just being judged on the low quality of your comments, old chap?...
Often asked, but never answered. Who let them into Europe ?
Do todays Portuguese have any comprehension of Freedom of Expression or is it just something they have been told they NOW HAVE ... but do not be stupid enough to test it !
When looking at Readers Comments I do not publish rants that have crossed the line into gibbberish, also I always have to bear in mind that there is no age limit for those accessing this website. I think to call algarvedailynews 'politically correct' is perhaps a bit wide of the mark...
The lieing media propaganda traitors, and the lieing traitor class politicians have to all now be removed!
By force if neccassary, for our own survival!
Islam must be banned! Like nazism is banned!
Islam and muslims have no place in western civilisation! Period!
The koran is a book of hate and incitement to murder, anyone who denies this is plain ignorant, or pushing the pc lies onto us.
What happened in paris, is 0 compared to what is coming to us if we all dont stop pretending, and wake up real real fast!
I imagine the pc algarve daily news will ban me, and delete this comment.
So much for freedom of speech.
Chukov
Perhaps not needed though ....
These guys have always taught racism in their classrooms from their school days.