German Muslims rally to show solidarity with Paris

Angela Waters | Special for USA TODAY

BERLIN — Thousands of German Muslims held a vigil Tuesday night to show solidarity for the victims of the Paris terrorist attacks last week and to speak against the country's growing anti-Islam movement.

"Violence like that in Paris can't be brought to Germany," said Busra Kelicarslan, 19, at the rally at Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate.

"The prophet says that Muslims are supposed to stand with each other, for each other, especially on days like today — when we have to show our true face," she said. "We don't want to be misrepresented in the media, but more importantly also in people's minds. Hate and fear need to stop."

About 4,000 people — some carrying signs saying "Je suis Charlie" — thronged the square at the gate, adorned with a huge French flag. German Chancellor Angela Merkel joined the vigil, along with other politicians and clergy from Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths.

German leaders spoke about the need for unity after last week's attacks in Paris and the anti-Islam movement in Germany with the group called Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West (PEGIDA).

"We are against any type of hate crime. The attacks against mosques are against us all," German President Joachim Gauck said. "Let us get to know those who are different from us and see how we are brought together by our commonalities. We all are Germany."

The Muslim community, political leaders, the business community and clergy, have been concerned over growing support for PEGIDA. It started as a small gathering in the eastern city of Dresden last fall and grew to 25,000 demonstrating there Monday.

Counter-demonstrators across Germany outnumbered PEGIDA supporters, though, with more than 100,000 on Monday taking to the streets across Germany.

German Muslims have not made a strong showing at the anti-PEGIDA rallies.

Mudassar Aziz, the imam of the Berlin Mosque, said that despite vehemently condemning the recent and previous terrorist attacks, many don't feel it's appropriate to demonstrate.

"We never participate in these kind of political and religious activities," Aziz said. "We believe in the freedom of expression of everyone. If someone is writing, making cartoons or doing any kind of demonstration, then it is their right to do it. We are a very peace-loving community."

Others said it was more advisable that non-Muslims protest PEGIDA.

"Muslims have not been so active against PEGIDA because it would have led to more polarization in the society," said Mohammad Majoka, spokesman of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat community in Germany. "It was much more advisable that the non-Muslims, who want to show that they are not part of PEGIDA, organize these demonstrations."

But after the terror attacks in Paris, some Muslims realized the community needed to do more to show they oppose this extremism and that they, too, are victims of it, Majoka added.

That sentiment was visible at the rally.

"I come from Iraq, and we wanted to show our faces here," said Susan Ahmed, 59. "People need to see that we are not Islamists. We (Muslims) are also the victims of terror. And especially those in Iraq."

Some said they were tired of seeing Islam's reputation trampled on by anti-Islam protesters, as well as by terrorists using religion for their own purposes.

"I am here because I'm a Muslim and want to defend my religion against people who are disparaging it," Kelicarslan said. "I don't want people dragging Islam through the mud."

Others said they were happy that Muslims organized Tuesday's vigil.

"I came for solidarity and togetherness. Islam is a religion of love and peace, and people need to know that," Akrid Meherali, 29, said. "I am proud that this was organized by Muslims."