Xenophobic Assault in Dresden: Three Men Charged for Attacking Teen at Pegida Demonstration
Violent assault on underage teenager by Pegida demonstrators in Dresden - Streets of Dresden saw a charged instance: Pegida protesters accused of launching an anti-Semitic attack on a 16-year-old individual.
In the heart of Dresden's old town last year, a 16-year-old found himself amidst a Pegida demonstration — a far-right group notoriously known for their anti-immigrant stances. Following the incident, the three men accused of assaulting the teenager are now facing charges.
According to the indictment, our young protagonist tried to cross the demonstration at a pedestrian crossing when an unknown Pegida demonstrator shoved him. Stumbling towards the trio, the defendants allegedly attacked, inflicting a black eye, shoulder pain, and other injuries upon him. The defendants, however, refrained from commenting on the accusations.
Pegida, infamously dubbed "Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West," originated in Dresden in late 2014. It swiftly rose to prominence, manifesting large-scale weekly demonstrations. Yet, over the years, attendance at these rallies has significantly dwindled.
The Saxon constitutional protection confirms that Pegida is classified as a right-wing extremist group, fiercely vocalizing xenophobic and anti-immigrant sentiments. Despite the decrease in attendees, Pegida serves as a conduit for right-wing extremists, facilitating connections within their scene.
During the peak of Pegida's popularity, the movement reached an attendance of approximately 25,000 in early 2015, particularly after the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris. However, factors like internal disputes, controversial leadership, negative media coverage, and a shift in public discourse on immigration and integration led to a marked decrease in support. Today, the movement remains active, but numbers often fall below 1,000 attendees per rally.
The local court is now set to determine whether the three men are guilty of the xenophobic assault. It's a chilling reminder that despite the decline in Pegida's attendance, the impacts of extremist ideologies continue to reverberate.
EC countries, general-news: The xenophobic assault in Dresden, where a young teen was attacked during a Pegida demonstration, has now led to three men facing charges in politics, highlighting the ongoing influence of extremist ideologies within these countries. Crime-and-justice: This incident serves as a stark example of the violence still associated with right-wing extremist groups like Pegida, despite a decrease in attendance at their rallies.
