Lawyers

• Pegida Founder Faces Trial, Contumeliously Calls Refugees "Filth" and "Cattle"

  Due to defamatory comments on his Facebook account, Pegida founder Lutz Bachmann is now facing trial. He called the refugees “filth” and “cattle” that drew anger and criticism. He could be imprisoned for up to five years if found guilty.

• Thousands attend anti-Islam pro-West rallies across Europe

  Members of PEGIDA (Patriotic Europeans agaisnt the Islamisation of the West) staged anti-Islam rallies across Europe this weekend to protest the massive influx of immigrants.

• Merkel, heckled on visit to refugees, says no to xenophobia

  Dozens of protesters shouted at Chancellor Angela Merkel and waved placards with the slogan "traitor" on Wednesday when she visited an eastern German town where anti-refugee protests erupted into violence at the weekend.

• German government to speed up asylum process but puts off aid decision

  Chancellor Angela Merkel's government and leaders of Germany's powerful regions agreed on Friday to speed up processing of asylum applications but put off a decision on increasing support for towns and cities struggling with a surge in refugees.

• German anti-euro AfD party loses support after internal row: poll

  Germany's anti-euro Alternative for Germany (AfD) party slipped two points to 4 percent in an opinion poll released on Wednesday after a leading member resigned last week due to an internal rift over whether to focus more on immigration.

• German court overturns ban on headscarves for Muslim women teachers

  Muslim women teachers can wear headscarves as long as it does not cause disruption in school, Germany's top court said in a ruling that overturns an earlier ban and may fuel debate about what some nationalist groups see as creeping "Islamization".

• Defiant Danes march after gunman attacks Copenhagen

  Tens of thousands of Danes gathered at torch-lit memorials around the country on Monday, commemorating victims of deadly attacks on a synagogue and an event promoting free speech that shocked a nation proud of its record of safety and openness.

• Anti-Islam group PEGIDA holds first Austria march

  PEGIDA, the anti-Islam movement born in Germany, drew hundreds of supporters and counter-demonstrators to the streets of Vienna when it held its first march in neighboring Austria on Monday.

• Rock concert, rallies overwhelm Germany's anti-Islam group

  Germany's anti-Islam PEGIDA movement was overwhelmed by opponents of the far-right group at a rock concert for tolerance in Dresden on Monday and enormously popular counter-demonstrations in cities across the country.

• Merkel vows to uphold protest rights after threat halts anti-Islam demo

  Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday she had a duty to protect the right to demonstrate in Germany, regardless of the issue, and offered federal security support after an anti-Islam march was canceled because of a terrorist threat.

• Merkel says Islam 'belongs to Germany' ahead of Dresden rally

  German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday Islam "belongs to Germany", in a clear repudiation of anti-immigration protesters gathering in Dresden and other cities.

• German anti-Islamist rally swells after attacks in France

  A record 25,000 anti-Islamist protesters marched through the east German city of Dresden on Monday, many holding banners with anti-immigrant slogans, and held a minute's silence for the victims of last week's attacks in France.

• Police hunt three Frenchmen after 12 killed in Paris attack

  Police are hunting three French nationals, including two brothers from the Paris region, after suspected Islamist gunmen killed 12 people at a satirical magazine on Wednesday, a police official and government source said.