This is the opportunity for Obama to make up for his absence in Paris
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30798534
German leaders to attend Muslim community rally
Protesters in Germany marched against the 'anti-Islamisation' group Pegida on Monday
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Paris attacks
Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim Gauck are to attend a Berlin vigil organised by Muslim groups promoting tolerance and religious freedom in Germany.
The organisers say Tuesday's event also aims to condemn the Paris attacks and show solidarity with the victims.
They are also responding to the latest "anti-Islamisation" rally, which drew a record crowd of 25,000 in Dresden.
Large anti-Pegida demonstrations took place in other German cities on Monday.
'Terrorism, not in our name'
President Gauck will address the vigil at the Brandenburg Gate, on the dividing line between the old East and West Germany. The event will be shown live on German television in a special broadcast entitled "Germany is Charlie".
Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, the scene of Tuesday's vigil
Senior figures from across the political spectrum will take part along with representatives from Germany's Central Jewish Council, whose vice-president will be among the speakers.
The Central Council of Muslims in Germany and the Turkish community in Berlin have titled the event: "We Muslims say: Let's stand by each other. Terrorism, not in our name."
While not among the speakers, the chancellor has thanked Germany's four-million-strong Muslim community for quickly and clearly condemning the violence in Paris.
She said on Monday that Islam was part of Germany and that there was no place for hatred, racism and extremism in the country. Mrs Merkel will address the German parliament in a special session to commemorate the victims of the attacks in France.
Marchers at a Pegida rally on Monday with a picture of Chancellor Merkel wearing a headscarf
Marchers in Dresden on Monday carried banners expressing solidarity with the French cartoonists, killed by Islamists in Paris.
Germany's political leaders have accused the Pegida movement of trying to capitalise on the attacks in France and fear it will spread to other cities. Leipzig saw its first Pegida-style demonstration on Monday.
However, 30,000 anti-Pegida marchers turned out in Leipzig and there were similar rallies in Munich and Hanover.
Thousands of protesters have joined Pegida's Monday marches in Dresden for several weeks
What is Pegida?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30798534
German leaders to attend Muslim community rally
Continue reading the main story
Paris attacks
Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim Gauck are to attend a Berlin vigil organised by Muslim groups promoting tolerance and religious freedom in Germany.
The organisers say Tuesday's event also aims to condemn the Paris attacks and show solidarity with the victims.
They are also responding to the latest "anti-Islamisation" rally, which drew a record crowd of 25,000 in Dresden.
Large anti-Pegida demonstrations took place in other German cities on Monday.
'Terrorism, not in our name'
President Gauck will address the vigil at the Brandenburg Gate, on the dividing line between the old East and West Germany. The event will be shown live on German television in a special broadcast entitled "Germany is Charlie".
Senior figures from across the political spectrum will take part along with representatives from Germany's Central Jewish Council, whose vice-president will be among the speakers.
The Central Council of Muslims in Germany and the Turkish community in Berlin have titled the event: "We Muslims say: Let's stand by each other. Terrorism, not in our name."
While not among the speakers, the chancellor has thanked Germany's four-million-strong Muslim community for quickly and clearly condemning the violence in Paris.
She said on Monday that Islam was part of Germany and that there was no place for hatred, racism and extremism in the country. Mrs Merkel will address the German parliament in a special session to commemorate the victims of the attacks in France.
Marchers in Dresden on Monday carried banners expressing solidarity with the French cartoonists, killed by Islamists in Paris.
Germany's political leaders have accused the Pegida movement of trying to capitalise on the attacks in France and fear it will spread to other cities. Leipzig saw its first Pegida-style demonstration on Monday.
However, 30,000 anti-Pegida marchers turned out in Leipzig and there were similar rallies in Munich and Hanover.
What is Pegida?
- Founded in Dresden by activist Lutz Bachmann in October 2014
- Acronym for Patriotische Europaer Gegen die Islamisierung des Abendlandes (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West)
- Umbrella group for German right wing, attracting support from mainstream conservatives to neo-Nazi factions and football hooligans
- Holds street protests against what it sees as a dangerous rise in the influence of Islam over European countries
- Claims not to be racist or xenophobic
- 19-point manifesto says the movement opposes extremism and calls for protection of Germany's Judeo-Christian culture
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