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Pegida Chief in Race Trial

Pegida Chief in Race Trial
Pegida Chief in Race Trial

Lutz Bachmann is set to appear in court over controversial comments he made about refugees.

The xenophobic Pegida party has gained traction recently, as Germany grapples with an influx of migrants.

The 42-year-old Bachmann, founder of the party “Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of Europe”, or Pegida, will appear in court in Dresden on Tuesday, after being charged for inciting hatred against migrants in October, AFP reported.

Bachmann drew fire after referring to refugees as “filth” and “cattle” on his Facebook page, comments that the court said “disrupted public order” and were an “attack on the dignity” of refugees.

The trial comes as Pegida has gained a sizable following around the country amid criticism surrounding Chancellor Angela Merkel’s refugee policies.

In January, thousands of Pegida demonstrators in Dresden protested against the intake of asylum seekers, leading to at least 10 cars being set on fire.

The court will be under tight security as the trial goes underway. If found guilty, Bachmann could face up to five years in prison.

Financialtribune.com