EUROPE-MIGRANTS/SLOVAKIA RALLY Slovaks hold pro- and anti-migrant rallies in Bratislava

Record ID: 141172

  • Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/SLOVAKIA RALLY Slovaks hold pro- and anti-migrant rallies in Bratislava
  • Date: 12th September 2015
  • Summary: WOMEN GIVING AWAY SYMBOLIC HEART BADGES AT PRO-MIGRANT DEMO
  • Embargoed: 27th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Slovakia
  • Country: Slovakia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9LDM5LR9XNNA6DGLXB5BS2MRY
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Over 1000 protesters marched through the Slovak capital Bratislava on Saturday (September 12) in a rally against migrants.
    The rally was organised by nationalist parties and movements, including the Slovak National Party and the People's Party. Demonstrators from other European countries such as the Czech Republic, Germany, Holland and Belgium also took part.
    "Slovakia for Slovaks!" and "No to Islamisation and EU dictatorship!" chanted protesters, as they waved anti-immigrant and anti-Islam banners.
    "We are coming here because Islam is the greatest danger for us in Europe," said Lieven from Belgium.
    "I have my own experiences with them (Muslim migrants) and I know that they are people who do not assimilate easily. Wherever they come, they leave only devastation behind and I don't think they are political immigrants but just economic migrants," said Slovak truck driver Marian Hrinko, holding an anti-Islam poster.
    But not far from the nationalist gathering, pro-migrant activists held their own rally which they called "Open your heart".
    "I am here because I would like Slovakia to be closer to the West. By walking through the town and shouting, "Heil!", we will not solve anything," said Tomas, from Bratislava.
    Protesters called for support for migrants fleeing hardship and war at home and denounced the rival anti-migrant demo held a few hundred metres away.
    Many tens of thousands of refugees are trekking from Greece via the Balkans and neighbouring Hungary towards western Europe.
    Germany expects to take in 800,000 asylum seekers this year alone and has asked other countries to share the responsibility.
    But other EU states have balked at calls to take in some of the hundreds of thousands of people who have streamed into Europe this year to escape wars and poverty in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
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