18:50 GMT +306 January 2017
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    Participants gather during an anti-immigration rally organised by an initiative called Stop Islamisation of Europe and backed by the far-right People's Party-Our Slovakia in Bratislava, Slovakia

    Slovak Anti-Immigration Protesters Tear Up EU Flag at Bratislava Rally

    © AFP 2016/ VLADIMIR SIMICEK
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    Thousands of people took to the streets of the Slovakian capital Bratislava Saturday to protest against immigration and EU quotas on migrant numbers at a rally organized by a group called “Stop the Islamization of Europe”.

    The participants waved flags and held a banner reading "Slovakia is not Africa".

    Carrying a banner bearing the slogan "Multiculturalism equals genocide", some protesters tore up an EU flag and launched tear gas at the police.

    Two police officers were injured and 140 of the most violent protesters were arrested.

    Later, at the local train station, unidentified attackers threw bottles and stones at an Arab family.

    According to various reports an estimated 10,000 took part in the rally.

    Slovak extremist groups come out against the European Commission’s idea of resettling 800 migrants in the country. According to an opinion poll conducted earlier this week, over 70 percent of Slovaks reject the immigration quotas set by the European Commission.

    The European Commission wants EU governments to agree to resettle over the next two years 40,000 asylum-seekers who reached Italy and Greece, many after perilous boat trips across the Mediterranean in which hundreds have died.

    Only refugees from states deemed by the EU to be facing the worst strife and conflict will be taken in.

    The plan will be discussed at an EU summit on June 25-26.

    Italy and Greece, bearing the brunt of the migrant wave, have repeatedly called on fellow EU states to share the burden.

    Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, hosting a meeting of the Visegrad countries of Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, said issuing quotas among member states flew against earlier EU decisions.

    He said the four countries supported a voluntary approach.

    Related:

    Anti-Islamization Protest in Slovakia Turns Violent, Scores Arrested
    Far-Right Activists Protest Slovakia's 'Islamization' in Bratislava
    Over 70% of Slovaks Voice Opposition to EU Migrant Quota Plan
    Tags:
    protests, quotas, anti-immigration protests, European Union, European Commission, Robert Fico, Slovakia
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    • kozwal
      What's wrong with wanting to avoid masses of foreigners who want to force you to think and act in ways that are in inimical to your native culture entering your country?

      I don't get it?
    • nadezhdochka_25
      they have huge anti-immigration rallies
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