Posted on 09/19/2008 6:37:27 PM PDT by Bokababe
Cologne, 19 Sept. (AKI) - Far-right protesters were gathering in the German city of Cologne this weekend to attend a three-day anti-Islamification congress" amid fears of possible clashes with Muslim minorities as well as German leftist groups.
The anti-immigrant Pro-Cologne group has organised the event in protest at plans to build a grand mosque for the city's sizeable Muslim community.
Trade unions and Muslim groups have organised a peaceful mass counter-demonstration in support of the building of the mosque.
Over 3,000 police officers have been deployed to maintain peace and security in the otherwise tolerant city.
The Pro-Cologne group has invited other far-right groups from neighbouring Austria, France and Belgium to take part in their protest.
Throughout Cologne, signs calling for resistance to the event are reported to be visible. Barkeepers have also decided not to serve Cologne's famous beer 'Koelsch', to far-right protesters.
The city gave planning permission this month for the mosque, which will have a dome and two minarets.
Pro-Cologne is separate from Germany's far-right parties, but state police have put it under surveillance.
Cologne's Mayor has also called on its citizens to shun the far-right protest.
I too have old friends in Koln who are strong Christians. I need to touch base with them on this. Simply awful to put a Temple of Satan in that beautiful town. Will it rival the Dom??? Horrible.
I kind of agree that Koelsch isn’t all that great—it’s okay, but when I drank beer, it was only “Pils” that wet my whistle over in ol’ Deutschland.
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