German Politicians Push Back as Anti-Immigrant Rallies Swell

Source: New York Times

BERLIN — With visible and vocal far-right protests against foreigners swelling in Germany in recent weeks, Chancellor Angela Merkel forcefully denounced the demonstrations on Monday, affirming that the country has both a special obligation and desire to welcome anyone in need of sanctuary.

More than 150,000 people sought asylum in Germany in the first 11 months of this year, many of them refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria, straining the country’s ability to house them. In addition, a looming labor shortage means Germany is increasingly attracting immigrants to work here.

“There is freedom of assembly in Germany but there is no place here for incitement and lies about people who come to us from other countries,” Ms. Merkel told reporters on Monday, hours before a group opposing alleged “Islamization” was to hold its ninth weekly protest in Dresden, where attendance has swelled from a few hundred to 10,000 last week.

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Nerves were rattled last Friday, when three buildings newly renovated for a few dozen refugees in Vorra, a village of 1,000 near Nuremberg, were burned in what appeared to be arson attacks. A swastika and an anti-refugee slogan were daubed on one of the torched structures.

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