PEGIDA Denmark takes cue from Germany / PEGIDA and counter-demonstrations come to Austria

Some 200 Danes wielding torches and placards marched in Denmark's first anti-Islam PEGIDA rally amid concerns the country could be targeted by Islamic extremists.

Nicolai Sennels, once a candidate for the anti-immigrant Danish People's Party (DPP), organised the demonstration. Among his previous attacks on Islam was a suggestion that in order to rid the country of fundamentalists, the government should ban the sale of halal meat. The DPP won the most votes during the election for European Parliament in 2014.

Deutsche Welle and other media sources reported that Austria's first PEGIDA rally was met with more than ten times the number of people in a counter-protest. The marches came at a time of increasing religious tension in Vienna, according to the sources.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Anti-Islamist PEGIDA rally in Dresden called off after threat http://www.europeansources.info/record/anti-islamist-pegida-rally-in-dresden-called-off-after-threat/

ESO: Background information: Half of Danes 'ashamed' by immigration debate http://www.europeansources.info/record/half-of-danes-ashamed-by-immigration-debate/

The Local.dk, 23.01.15: Controversial Danish mosque praised by cops http://www.thelocal.dk/20150123/controversial-danish-mosque-praised-by-police

The Local.dk, 23.01.15: Denmark sees asylum numbers double in 2014 http://www.thelocal.dk/20150123/denmark-asylum-seekers-refugee-double-2014

The Local.dk, 22.01.15: One in eight Danes wants a party to the right of DF http://www.thelocal.dk/20150122/one-in-eight-danes-want-a-more-anti-immigration-party

The Local.dk, 19.01.15: Pegida movement hits the streets of Denmark http://www.thelocal.dk/20150119/pegida-movement-hits-the-streets-of-denmark

Deutsche Welle, 02.02.15: PEGIDA and counter-demonstrations come to Austria http://dw.de/p/1EUio

BBC News, 02.02.15: Anti-Islamist Pegida group holds first march in Austria http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31103221

Euronews, 03.02.15: Anti-Islam PEGIDA protests spring up in Austria http://www.euronews.com/2015/02/03/anti-islam-pegida-protests-spring-up-in-austria/

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

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