Thousands of Germans march in anti-Islam protest

Over 10,000 people took to the street of West German city, Dresden to take part in an anti-Islam protest.

The march which was organized by a movement called “Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West” (Pegida) took place in the city of Dresden which is the birthplace of the movement.

According to German media reports, the Pegida grew out of a Facebook group launched by chef turned graphic designer, Lutz Bachmann who insists that he is not racist.

The 41-year-old has admitted to past criminal convictions, including for drug-dealing and has revealed that he spent two years in prison.

The protesters brandished banners inscribed with different slogans all against the “islamisation of Germany”.

"No sharia law in Europe!" one banner read.

is however reporting that the protesters are calling against high levels of immigration and asylum seekers.

Immigration has become a hot topic in Germany this year, amid a surge in the numbers of asylum seekers, fuelled by the wars in Syria and Iraq. Germany takes in more asylum seekers than any other country. Germany expects 200,000 asylum claims for 2014, up from 127,000 in 2013.

According to BBC, the Pegida leader in Dresden, Frauke Petry, said that they are protesting against inadequate legislation on asylum rights; that the German law be applied against law-breakers and against opposing religious extremism.

BBC also reports that more than 5,000 people also stormed the street in a counter-demonstration.