Almost Third of Germans Support Anti-Muslim Protests: Reports

According to a recent poll, almost a third of Germany's residents support anti-Muslim protests, organized by the right-wing group Pegida, that opposes the "Islamization of the West".

MOSCOW, January 2 (Sputnik) – Nearly a third of Germany's residents support anti-Muslim protests that have taken place in the country over the past few weeks, the German Stern weekly magazine reports.

According to survey results, published by Stern Thursday, 29 percent of German residents believe that the demonstrations, organized by the right-wing group Pegida, that opposes the "Islamization of the West" are justified and fair. However, only 13 percent of those surveyed said they would be willing to participate in such protests if they were to take place close to their home.

On December 22, a Pegida-organized demonstration in the German city of Dresden gathered a record number of 17,000 people. The demonstration was the largest of a number of anti-Muslim protests held over the past ten weeks in Dresden. Pegida plans to organize more rallies in other German cities.

On December 24, German President Joachim Gauck criticized the anti-Muslim protests in the country, calling for tolerance and peace in his Christmas message.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also condemned the Pegida group.