Angela Merkel Joins Germany's Top Political Leaders In March To Support Muslims

Angela Merkel Joins Top Political Leaders In Supporting Germany's Muslims
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, addresses the media during a joint press conference as part of a meeting with the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk, at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, addresses the media during a joint press conference as part of a meeting with the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk, at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

BERLIN (AP) — Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans not to marginalize Muslims or other minorities Tuesday, as the country's political leaders prepared to take part in a rally meant to counter growing anti-Islam protests in Germany.

Merkel has taken a strong public stance in recent weeks against groups such as Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West, or PEGIDA. The group mobilized 25,000 supporters Monday for an anti-Islam protest in the eastern city of Dresden.

"Excluding population groups due to their faith or their origin is beneath the dignity of our liberal state," she said in a speech in Berlin. "Hatred of foreigners, racism and extremism have no place in this country."

Merkel will be joined by German President Joachim Gauck at a rally organized by Muslim groups near Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate.

PEGIDA's anti-Islam protests began twelve weeks ago and have grown steadily, tapping into fears among some Germans that the country is being flooded by Muslim immigrants.

Germany has some 4 million Muslim residents, mostly of Turkish origin. That is equivalent to about 5 percent of the population of 80 million.

Before You Go

OLIVER BERG via Getty Images
Lights to illuminate Cologne's landmark the Cologne Cathedral (C) are switched off in protest against a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Cologne, western Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / DPA / OLIVER BERG +++ GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read OLIVER BERG/AFP/Getty Images)
ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images
A demonstrator holds a crucifix (C) in the colors of Germany during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement called Pegida on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)
ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images
A demonstrator holds a crucifix (C) in the colors of Germany during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement called Pegida on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)
ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images
A demonstrator holds a crucifix (C) in the colors of Germany as other people wave with German national flags during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement called Pegida on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)
ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images
Demonstrators wave with German national flags during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement called Pegida on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)
ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images
Demonstrators wave with German and Russian national flags during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement called Pegida on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)
ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images
Poeple look at demonstrators waving with German and Russian national flags during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement called Pegida on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)
ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images
A demonstrator holds a crucifix (C) in the colors of Germany during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement called Pegida on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)
ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images
Anti-Pegida demonstrators sweep the place where a rally was held by the mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)
ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images
Anti-Pegida demonstrators sweep the place where a rally was held by the mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)
ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images
An anti-Pegida-protester wearing a Guy-Fawkes-mask is arrested by the police during a rally by the mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)
ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images
An anti-Pegida-protester is arrested by the police during a rally by the mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)
ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images
People take part in a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)
ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images
Lars Seidensticker (L) of the anti-Islam party 'Burgerbewegung pro Deutschland' (Citizens movement pro Germany) holds a sticker showing a crossed out mosque as he takes part in a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)
ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images
People use umbrellas to give the finger to supporters of a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)
ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images
A man holds a poster reading 'An Islamic, democratic state somewhere in the World? The German constitutional law is not negotiable!!' and displaying an old title of the German news magazine 'Der Spiegel' from the year 2007 reading 'Mecca Germany - The Silent Islamization' as he takes part in a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)
ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images
Lars Seidensticker of the anti-Islam party 'Burgerbewegung pro Deutschland' (Citizens movement pro Germany) holds a sticker showing a crossed out mosque as he takes part in a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)
ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images
People hold a banner reading 'Against religious fanaticism' as they take part in a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)
MAJA HITIJ via Getty Images
Demonstrators hold up a poster reading 'KoegidD - Koeln (Cologne) against idiotic Germans' in protest against a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Cologne, western Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / DPA / MAJA HITIJ +++ GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read MAJA HITIJ/AFP/Getty Images)
ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images
Demonstrators wave flags of Germany and Russia during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)
ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images
A demonstrator holds a crucifix in the colors of Germany during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MLCHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)
ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images
A man holds up a poster reading '!No! islamization of Europe!' as he takes part in a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)
ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images
A demonstrator holds a German flag during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MLCHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)
OLIVER BERG via Getty Images
People take part in a protest against a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Cologne, western Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / DPA / OLIVER BERG +++ GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read OLIVER BERG/AFP/Getty Images)
ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images
German Justice Minister Heiko Maas (C) takes part in a demonstration to protest against a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot