Pegida facts for kids
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Patriotische Europäer gegen die Islamisierung des Abendlandes
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| Abbreviation | Pegida |
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| Formation | 11 October 2014 |
| Legal status | Eingetragener Verein (registered voluntary association) |
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Official language
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German |
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Chair
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Lutz Bachmann |
Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West (German: Patriotische Europäer gegen die Islamisierung des Abendlandes), often called Pegida (German: [peˈɡiːda]), is a political group. It started in Germany and has spread to other parts of Europe. Pegida believes that Germany is becoming too influenced by Islam. They are against Islamic extremism.
Pegida wants to control how many people move to Germany. They also say that the government is not following laws about immigration. Pegida has held many public protests. Often, other groups hold protests against Pegida at the same time.
In 2015, Lutz Bachmann, who started Pegida, left the group for a short time. This happened after he was seen in a photo that looked like Adolf Hitler. He also made some comments that were seen as racist. He later rejoined the group.
Pegida is part of a larger movement that is against what it calls "Islamisation."
Contents
Understanding Pegida: A Look at Its History
How Pegida Started
Pegida was founded in October 2014 by Lutz Bachmann. He runs a public relations business in Dresden, Germany. Bachmann decided to start Pegida after seeing a protest in Dresden. This protest was by supporters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). They were protesting against attacks by the Islamic State (ISIL).
The day after this protest, Bachmann created a Facebook group. He called it 'Patriotic Europeans against Islamisation of the Occident'. Other events, like clashes between groups in Germany, also influenced his decision.
Changes in Leadership
In January 2015, Lutz Bachmann stepped down from his role in Pegida. This happened because of some things he posted on Facebook. These posts included a photo where he seemed to be dressed as Adolf Hitler. He also made insulting comments about immigrants.
These actions led to a police investigation. Many people, including Germany's Deputy Chancellor, criticized Bachmann. Pegida's media spokeswoman, Kathrin Oertel, also resigned soon after. Four other leaders left the group as well.
Later, Kathrin Oertel and other former Pegida members started a new group. They called it 'Direct Democracy for Europe'. They wanted to move away from Pegida's extreme views.
Lutz Bachmann Returns
In February 2015, Lutz Bachmann was voted back as chairman of Pegida. This happened after a newspaper reported that the "Hitler moustache" in the photo was added later.
Pegida and Local Elections
In June 2015, Tatjana Festerling, a former Pegida leader, ran for mayor of Dresden. She received 9.6% of the votes. Lutz Bachmann then announced that Pegida would take part in all future national elections in Germany.
New Protests and Stronger Views
The European migrant crisis in 2015 brought more supporters to Pegida. A rally in Dresden in October 2015 drew about 20,000 people. During this time, some observers noted that the group's views became even stronger.
At some protests, journalists were hurt. In October 2015, some Pegida demonstrators carried a mock gallows. It showed nooses for Chancellor Angela Merkel and her deputy. Bachmann criticized this action.
At Pegida's anniversary event, a speaker named Akif Pirinçci made strong statements. He called Muslim refugees "invaders." He also suggested that politicians wished "concentration camps" were available for critics. The crowd applauded his speech.
In Leipzig, a Pegida anniversary event led to violence. Some hooligans damaged shops owned by foreigners. The mayor called it "open street terror."
Pegida Forms a Political Party
Lutz Bachmann started a new political party. It is called the "Liberal Direct Democratic People's Party" (FDDV). It was formed in June 2016. A branch of Pegida also started in the United Kingdom.
What Pegida Stands For
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In December 2014, Pegida shared a list of 19 statements about their beliefs. At first, their exact goals were not clear. This was partly because Pegida leaders avoided talking to the press. They believed the media was biased.
At their protests, supporters often carry the German national flag. They also use a special flag called the "Wirmer flag." This flag was suggested in 1944 for use after World War II.
Pegida sees Islamism as a violent way of thinking. News organizations have described Pegida as a far-right group. They also call it anti-immigrant. Chancellor Angela Merkel has questioned Pegida's reasons for its anti-immigrant message.
In February 2015, Pegida updated its 19 statements. They were changed into ten "Theses of Dresden." In September 2015, Pegida asked for ten changes to Germany's refugee policy. They wanted to stop new asylum seekers immediately.
Who Joins Pegida and Why
| Date | participants per day |
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| 20 October 2014 |
350
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| 27 October 2014 |
500
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| 3 November 2014 |
1,000
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| 10 November 2014 |
1,700
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| 17 November 2014 |
3,200
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| 24 November 2014 |
5,500
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| 1 December 2014 |
7,500
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| 8 December 2014 |
10,000
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| 15 December 2014 |
15,000
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| 22 December 2014 |
17,500
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| 5 January 2015 |
18,000
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| 12 January 2015 |
25,000
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| 25 January 2015 |
17,300
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| 9 February 2015 |
2,000
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| 16 February 2015 |
4,300
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| 23 February 2015 |
4,800
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| 2 March 2015 |
6,200
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| 9 March 2015 |
6,500
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| 16 March 2015 |
7,700
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| 23 March 2014 |
5,500
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| 30 March 2015 |
2,900
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| 6 April 2015 |
7,100
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| 13 April 2015 |
10,000
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| 11 May 2015 |
3,000
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| 18 May 2015 |
3,000
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| 25 May 2015 |
2,200
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| 1 June 2015 |
2,000
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Experts say Pegida is a mix of different people. This includes known right-wing figures and ordinary citizens. The movement is strongest in areas where people have little experience with foreigners.
A study by Dresden University of Technology looked at Pegida demonstrators. It found that their main reasons for joining were:
- Unhappiness with the political situation (54%).
- Concerns about Islam (23%).
- Criticism of the media (20%).
- Worries about asylum seekers and migrants (15%).
The study also found that 42% had concerns about Muslims or Islam. 20% worried about crimes by asylum seekers. The study suggested that Pegida rallies were a way for people to express feelings not often heard in public.
Another study found that Pegida supporters were mostly men. They often had a good education. They also did not trust many public institutions. This study concluded that some Pegida supporters showed extreme right-wing views.
As of January 2016, Pegida's Facebook page had about 200,000 followers. This page helps users share their ideas.
How People Reacted to Pegida
Protests Against Pegida
Many protests have been held against Pegida across Germany. In January 2015, up to 35,000 people protested in Dresden. Nationwide, about 100,000 people joined these counter-protests. This was much more than the number of Pegida supporters.
To protest a Pegida march, the lights of the Catholic Cologne Cathedral were turned off. The Volkswagen factory in Dresden also used this method of protest.
A German newspaper, Bild, started a petition against Pegida. Many famous Germans signed it. This included former Chancellors and athletes.
Public Opinion Polls
Surveys have shown different views on Pegida. In December 2014, one survey found that about half of Germans understood Pegida's protests. This understanding was higher among supporters of certain political parties.
Another survey showed that 30% of Germans felt sympathetic towards the demonstrations. 19% said they were understanding. However, 85% of Germans said they would not join a Pegida protest.
A special report found that many Germans saw Islam as dangerous. This led to "strong sympathy" for Pegida's ideas. For example, 57% of people thought Islam was a danger. 40% felt like "foreigners in their own country."
Political Reactions
Former Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized Pegida. She said their leaders had "prejudice, coldness, even hatred in their hearts." However, the Federal Minister of the Interior said that many ordinary people joined Pegida. He believed they were expressing concerns about society.
The chairman of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, strongly opposed Pegida. He called the idea of an Islamic takeover of Germany "absurd." He also said Pegida was "highly dangerous." He believed the group used fear of terror to criticize an entire religion.
The Central Council of Muslims in Germany also criticized Pegida. They said the protests showed that anti-foreigner and anti-Semitic views were becoming more accepted.
The lights of famous landmarks were turned off to protest Pegida. This included the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and the Cologne Cathedral. These protests successfully stopped some Pegida rallies.
The US government also warned its citizens about Pegida protests. They advised people to avoid demonstration areas in German cities.
International Reactions
Pegida also caused reactions in other countries. In France, newspapers discussed if Pegida was similar to France's far-right National Front. French cartoonists even published a flyer against Pegida. They said Pegida stood for everything they fought against.
The Times newspaper in the UK said that Pegida was the first German populist movement since 1945 to complain publicly about an ethnic minority. The New York Times said that the fear of Islamisation in Germany was strange. This was because few Muslims lived in the area where Pegida was strongest.
Turkish newspapers also reported on Pegida. Turkey's prime minister compared Pegida followers to a terror group. He said both had "archaic mindsets." He called Pegida a "threat to Turks, Muslims and Germany itself."
Other Groups Like Pegida
In Germany
Pegida has led to many smaller groups across Germany. These include Legida in Leipzig and Sügida in southern Thuringia. Some of these groups have had their own problems. For example, some were taken over by other right-wing groups.
Another group, Nügida, was investigated. This was after some of its members were involved in a plot to bomb a refugee center.
Around the World
Pegida supporters have held protests in other countries. In January 2015, about 200 people protested in Oslo, Norway. In Denmark, about 200 people marched in Copenhagen. A Spanish group tried to protest outside a mosque in Madrid, but it was not allowed.
Protests were also planned in Switzerland and Antwerp, Belgium. The Antwerp protest happened without permission. About 350 people were there, and many were fined.
In February 2015, Pegida UK held its first protest in Newcastle upon Tyne. About 400 people attended. Around 1,000 people came to protest against them. There was also a small Pegida protest in London.
In Sweden, Pegida demonstrations were very small. In one city, only eight people showed up. The Swedish branch later broke up.
A Pegida protest in Montreal, Canada, was cancelled. This was because hundreds of people gathered to protest against it. A protest in Toronto ended in a fight. The counter-protesters greatly outnumbered Pegida members.
In Austria, Pegida did not gain much support. This is because a far-right political party already represented similar ideas.
Pegida Ireland planned a rally in Dublin. However, members were attacked on their way to the event. The rally never took place.
Working Together: Fortress Europe
On January 23, 2016, leaders from 14 groups met in the Czech Republic. These groups were similar to Pegida, including Pegida Austria and Pegida Bulgaria. Lutz Bachmann and Tatjana Festerling from Pegida were there.
They signed something called the Prague Declaration. It stated their belief that "the history of Western civilisation could soon come to an end through Islam conquering Europe." This meeting created a group called the Fortress Europe coalition.
Other groups that joined Fortress Europe or took part in Pegida events include:
- Identity Ireland
- Pegida Switzerland
- Pegida UK
- Reclaim Australia
They announced that protests would happen on February 6, 2016. This was to show their determination.
See also
In Spanish: Patriotas Europeos contra la Islamización de Occidente para niños
- Counter-jihad
- Islamic fundamentalism
- Identitarian movement
