German Leaders Attend Muslim Gathering to Promote Tolerance

Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, and Joachim Gauck, the President of the country, participated on Tuesday, January 13, in a gathering of Muslims in Germany aimed at promoting tolerance and religious freedoms. This gathering in Berlin follows demonstrations in Dresden, eastern Germany, where thousands of German citizens protested against what they perceive as the 'Islamization' of their culture and customs. The Dresden police described the January 12 march as the largest gathering organized by the 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West' (PEGIDA) movement. At the same time, counter-demonstrations against this movement were held in other cities across Germany. Earlier, a group of German politicians had called for the cancellation of the PEGIDA supporters' march. The recent protests and gatherings come in the wake of deadly attacks on the Charlie Hebdo office and a hostage situation in Paris. During the Tuesday gathering, the German President stated that the attacks in Paris have 'united' society. Joachim Gauck said, 'We are not afraid of you. Your hatred drives us to action. We defend our country and our values. The terrorists (in Paris) wanted to divide us, but they achieved the opposite; they united us.' Alongside Muslim religious leaders, Christian and Jewish religious leaders also attended the gathering. The event included a march with an estimated attendance of six to ten thousand people. The Muslims of Germany, who organized this march, expressed their solidarity with the victims of Charlie Hebdo.