The German government's domestic intelligence agency has been given the right to spy on the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) after a court ruled Tuesday that the party is a suspected threat to democracy.

In March, the court dismissed a legal challenge brought by the AfD that delayed plans by Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) to put the party under surveillance.

Cologne's administrative court, however, found that there were "sufficient indications of anti-constitutional goals within the AfD," it said in a statement.

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Therefore, the BfV is allowed to classify the anti-Islam, anti-immigrant party as a "suspected case of right-wing extremism".

The classification allows intelligence agents to eavesdrop on the party's communications and use undercover agents.

In their argument, AfD leaders asserted the party had distanced itself from its most extreme elements by disbanding the hardline "Wing" faction led by Bjoern Hoecke.

Even so, judges in Cologne said key figures from the faction still held "significant influence" in the party.

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In addition, the court criticised the extreme positions of the AfD's youth wing, saying its members shared the views of former "Wing" supporters that "German people should be kept ethnically intact and 'outsiders' should be excluded as far as possible".

"This goes against the Basic Law," the court said, referring to Germany's constitution.

The AfD began as an anti-euro party in 2013 before becoming an anti-immigrant one.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: The mystery around Russia's 'Z' Symbol

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-mystery-around-russias-z-symbol-460386/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In 2017, the party won its first seats in the national parliament, riding on public outrage over an influx of refugees in 2015-2016.

A series of infightings and waning concerns about immigration have now weakened it. At last year's general election, the AfD won just over 10 per cent of the vote, down from almost 13 per cent previously, despite attempts to win over opponents of government coronavirus restrictions.

(With inputs from agencies)

The German government's domestic intelligence agency has been given the right to spy on the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) after a court ruled Tuesday that the party is a suspected threat to democracy.

The German government's domestic intelligence agency has been given the right to spy on the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) after a court ruled Tuesday that the party is a suspected threat to democracy. In March, the court dismissed a legal challenge brought by the AfD that delayed plans by Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) to put the party under surveillance. Cologne's administrative court, however, found that there were "sufficient indications of anti-constitutional goals within the AfD," it said in a statement. Also read | A bill 'based on hate & discrimination': Florida passes archaic 'Don't Say Gay' school bill Therefore, the BfV is allowed to classify the anti-Islam, anti-immigrant party as a "suspected case of right-wing extremism". The classification allows intelligence agents to eavesdrop on the party's communications and use undercover agents. In their argument, AfD leaders asserted the party had distanced itself from its most extreme elements by disbanding the hardline "Wing" faction led by Bjoern Hoecke. Even so, judges in Cologne said key figures from the faction still held "significant influence" in the party. Also read | This is why some people develop life-threatening COVID-19, while others get no symptoms at all In addition, the court criticised the extreme positions of the AfD's youth wing, saying its members shared the views of former "Wing" supporters that "German people should be kept ethnically intact and 'outsiders' should be excluded as far as possible". "This goes against the Basic Law," the court said, referring to Germany's constitution. The AfD began as an anti-euro party in 2013 before becoming an anti-immigrant one. Watch | Gravitas: The mystery around Russia's 'Z' Symbol In 2017, the party won its first seats in the national parliament, riding on public outrage over an influx of refugees in 2015-2016. A series of infightings and waning concerns about immigration have now weakened it. At last year's general election, the AfD won just over 10 per cent of the vote, down from almost 13 per cent previously, despite attempts to win over opponents of government coronavirus restrictions. (With inputs from agencies)

German domestic intelligence agency gets green-light to spy on far-right, extremist AfD party

Germans in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt&nbsp;are heading to the polls on Sunday, with the far-right posing a tough challenge to Angela Merkel's conservatives in the final major test before the first general election in 16 years not to feature the veteran chancellor.

Saxony-Anhalt is one of Germany's smallest states with a population of just 2.2 million, but with Merkel's Christian Democratic Union running neck-and-neck with the far-right AfD there, the stakes could not be higher for the regional vote.

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Victory for the AfD would be a devastating blow for the conservatives and seriously weaken the already fragile standing of the CDU's new leader Armin Laschet in the run-up to Germany's national election on September 26.

"If it turns out that the AfD is slightly stronger than the CDU on Sunday, then there could be debates about personnel in the CDU, and thus a weakening of the entire situation of the CDU," political scientist Hajo Funke of Berlin's Free University told AFP.

Merkel's party has been a dominant force in the eastern region for decades, topping all but one edition of state elections there since reunification in 1990.

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But the far-right AfD established a strong foothold there in the last state election in 2016, having capitalised on anger over Merkel's decision to allow in a wave of migrants from conflict-torn countries such as Syria in 2015.&nbsp;

In that election, the CDU scooped 30 per cent, forming a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens. The AfD won 24 per cent.

The latest polls published Friday by Bild daily has the CDU at 27 per cent, one point ahead of the AfD.

Anti-establishment&nbsp;

Although support for the AfD at the national level has stagnated at around 10 to 12 per cent in recent months, the party continues to be popular in the former East German states.

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Its recent move to style itself as the party bashing Merkel's tough shutdown measures during the pandemic has also cemented its reputation as the anti-establishment party, attracting support beyond its core base of anti-immigration voters.

The AfD will not be able to govern even if it wins in Saxony-Anhalt, as all the other parties have ruled out forming an alliance with it.

But losing to the AfD would be, as Spiegel magazine puts it, "a disaster" for Laschet, nominated as the conservative chancellor candidate in April.

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"Laschet urgently needs a success to rally the Union behind him for the national election campaign," said the magazine.

"The last thing he would need is a renewed debate about the AfD within his party, which would become unstoppable in case of an election defeat in Saxony-Anhalt."

Worst ever results 

The conservatives have already taken a hammering in the polls as Merkel prepares to bow out, hurt by anger over the government's pandemic management and a corruption scandal involving shady coronavirus mask contracts.

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At Germany's last regional elections in March, in the states of Rhineland Palatinate and Baden-Wuerttemberg, the CDU suffered its worst-ever results in both states.

Meanwhile, the Greens, who are vying for top place nationally, could also draw votes away from the CDU.

The party, which has traditionally struggled in former East Germany, looks set to double its share of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt from 5 per cent in 2016 to around 10 per cent this time.

The CDU, which Merkel has pulled closer to the centre, is essentially caught between the two fronts. with the far-right AfD on one end and the centre-left ecologists on the other.

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Laschet has promised to maintain CDU as the "force of the political middleground".

But political analyst Oskar Niedermayer told AFP that the reality is that voters in the east tend to be "more conservative and more nationalist" than in the west.&nbsp;

This means that the CDU needs to "set different thematic priorities in the east and in the west" if it wants to maintain its broad base of support, he said.&nbsp;

"That is no easy task."

Germans in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt are heading to the polls on Sunday, with the far-right posing a tough challenge to Angela Merkel's conservatives in the final major test before the first general election in 16 years not to feature the veteran chancellor.

Germans in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt are heading to the polls on Sunday, with the far-right posing a tough challenge to Angela Merkel's conservatives in the final major test before the first general election in 16 years not to feature the veteran chancellor. Saxony-Anhalt is one of Germany's smallest states with a population of just 2.2 million, but with Merkel's Christian Democratic Union running neck-and-neck with the far-right AfD there, the stakes could not be higher for the regional vote. Also Read | Germany places far-right AfD party under surveillance for extremism Victory for the AfD would be a devastating blow for the conservatives and seriously weaken the already fragile standing of the CDU's new leader Armin Laschet in the run-up to Germany's national election on September 26. "If it turns out that the AfD is slightly stronger than the CDU on Sunday, then there could be debates about personnel in the CDU, and thus a weakening of the entire situation of the CDU," political scientist Hajo Funke of Berlin's Free University told AFP. Merkel's party has been a dominant force in the eastern region for decades, topping all but one edition of state elections there since reunification in 1990. Also Read | In tit-for-tat move, Germany blocks Russian flights amid tensions over Belarus But the far-right AfD established a strong foothold there in the last state election in 2016, having capitalised on anger over Merkel's decision to allow in a wave of migrants from conflict-torn countries such as Syria in 2015. In that election, the CDU scooped 30 per cent, forming a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens. The AfD won 24 per cent. The latest polls published Friday by Bild daily has the CDU at 27 per cent, one point ahead of the AfD. Anti-establishment Although support for the AfD at the national level has stagnated at around 10 to 12 per cent in recent months, the party continues to be popular in the former East German states. Also Read | Germany must tighten climate law to protect young people's future, court rules Its recent move to style itself as the party bashing Merkel's tough shutdown measures during the pandemic has also cemented its reputation as the anti-establishment party, attracting support beyond its core base of anti-immigration voters. The AfD will not be able to govern even if it wins in Saxony-Anhalt, as all the other parties have ruled out forming an alliance with it. But losing to the AfD would be, as Spiegel magazine puts it, "a disaster" for Laschet, nominated as the conservative chancellor candidate in April. Also Read | German Greens' election hopeful targeted by fake news "Laschet urgently needs a success to rally the Union behind him for the national election campaign," said the magazine. "The last thing he would need is a renewed debate about the AfD within his party, which would become unstoppable in case of an election defeat in Saxony-Anhalt." Worst ever results The conservatives have already taken a hammering in the polls as Merkel prepares to bow out, hurt by anger over the government's pandemic management and a corruption scandal involving shady coronavirus mask contracts. Also Read | CDU party board backs Laschet to run as German conservative chancellor candidate At Germany's last regional elections in March, in the states of Rhineland Palatinate and Baden-Wuerttemberg, the CDU suffered its worst-ever results in both states. Meanwhile, the Greens, who are vying for top place nationally, could also draw votes away from the CDU. The party, which has traditionally struggled in former East Germany, looks set to double its share of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt from 5 per cent in 2016 to around 10 per cent this time. The CDU, which Merkel has pulled closer to the centre, is essentially caught between the two fronts. with the far-right AfD on one end and the centre-left ecologists on the other. Also Read | Germany's Greens make first bid for chancellery, promise change Laschet has promised to maintain CDU as the "force of the political middleground". But political analyst Oskar Niedermayer told AFP that the reality is that voters in the east tend to be "more conservative and more nationalist" than in the west. This means that the CDU needs to "set different thematic priorities in the east and in the west" if it wants to maintain its broad base of support, he said. "That is no easy task."

Final vote test in Germany ahead of post-Merkel-era election

Germany has flagged its largest opposition party AFD as an extremist group. Germany's domestic intelligence service formerly placed the far-right party under surveillance.

Germany: Far-right AFD party flagged as suspected extremist group

Hundreds of people rallied on Saturday in protest against the far-right Alternative for Germany in the western German city of Brunswick where the AfD gathered to elect new leaders.

Riot police fenced off the Volkswagen Halle sports venue hosting some 550 AfD delegates to keep leftist protesters waving rainbow flags and banners reading "Against the AfD and its incitement" from reaching the building.

Party co-leader Alexander Gauland said in an opening speech that the AfD's goal was to move from the opposition to the government, at least at the regional level.

The AfD is the biggest opposition party in the Bundestag national parliament, which it entered for the first time in 2017, propelled by voters angry at conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision in 2015 to admit almost one million mainly Muslim asylum seekers.

The AfD also sits on opposition benches in all of Germany's 16 state parliaments, where it is ostracised by all established parties, including Merkel's centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD).

"They call us Nazis, fascists and right-wing terrorists," said Gauland. "But we need to be wise and resilient. The day will come when a weakened CDU has only one option: us."

Merkel's conservatives have said they cannot work with the party, saying its anti-immigrant and anti-Semitic rhetoric contributes to an atmosphere of hate that encourages political violence.

Gauland, 78 and seen as a unifying figure in the AfD, has indicated he might run again for the leadership if he doubts the quality of the candidates.

His leadership partner, European Parliament lawmaker Joerg Meuthen, who is seeking re-election, echoed aspirations to prepare the party for a possible role in government.

"We need to make ourselves ready to govern," said Meuthen. "It is not going to happen in 2019 or in 2020. But is going to happen."

The party has said it wants to continue with the co-leadership model.

Tino Chrupalla, a lawmaker from the eastern state of Saxony, is the candidate favoured by senior AfD members. He also has the backing of Bjoern Hoecke, AfD leader in the eastern state of Thuringia who leads a radical wing within the party that is under surveillance by the domestic intelligence agency for possible unconstitutional activities.

"If we want more success we need to change," Chrupalla said on Friday during a reception. "We want to move toward the centre. This will work because the CDU keeps moving to the left."

The AfD won around a fourth of votes in elections in three eastern states this year. The party is more popular in former Communist eastern states, with double the support that it has in the west of the country.

Chrupalla's main challenger is lawmaker Gottfried Curio, a physicist and musician, whose rhetoric against Muslims has turned him into a YouTube star with almost 52,000 followers.

Hundreds of people rallied on Saturday in protest against the far-right Alternative for Germany in the western German city of Brunswick where the AfD gathered to elect new leaders.

Hundreds of people rallied on Saturday in protest against the far-right Alternative for Germany in the western German city of Brunswick where the AfD gathered to elect new leaders. Riot police fenced off the Volkswagen Halle sports venue hosting some 550 AfD delegates to keep leftist protesters waving rainbow flags and banners reading "Against the AfD and its incitement" from reaching the building. Party co-leader Alexander Gauland said in an opening speech that the AfD's goal was to move from the opposition to the government, at least at the regional level. The AfD is the biggest opposition party in the Bundestag national parliament, which it entered for the first time in 2017, propelled by voters angry at conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision in 2015 to admit almost one million mainly Muslim asylum seekers. The AfD also sits on opposition benches in all of Germany's 16 state parliaments, where it is ostracised by all established parties, including Merkel's centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). "They call us Nazis, fascists and right-wing terrorists," said Gauland. "But we need to be wise and resilient. The day will come when a weakened CDU has only one option: us." Merkel's conservatives have said they cannot work with the party, saying its anti-immigrant and anti-Semitic rhetoric contributes to an atmosphere of hate that encourages political violence. Gauland, 78 and seen as a unifying figure in the AfD, has indicated he might run again for the leadership if he doubts the quality of the candidates. His leadership partner, European Parliament lawmaker Joerg Meuthen, who is seeking re-election, echoed aspirations to prepare the party for a possible role in government. "We need to make ourselves ready to govern," said Meuthen. "It is not going to happen in 2019 or in 2020. But is going to happen." The party has said it wants to continue with the co-leadership model. Tino Chrupalla, a lawmaker from the eastern state of Saxony, is the candidate favoured by senior AfD members. He also has the backing of Bjoern Hoecke, AfD leader in the eastern state of Thuringia who leads a radical wing within the party that is under surveillance by the domestic intelligence agency for possible unconstitutional activities. "If we want more success we need to change," Chrupalla said on Friday during a reception. "We want to move toward the centre. This will work because the CDU keeps moving to the left." The AfD won around a fourth of votes in elections in three eastern states this year. The party is more popular in former Communist eastern states, with double the support that it has in the west of the country. Chrupalla's main challenger is lawmaker Gottfried Curio, a physicist and musician, whose rhetoric against Muslims has turned him into a YouTube star with almost 52,000 followers.

Germany's far-right AfD eyes path to government with new leaders

Thousands marched against hate and racism in the eastern German of city Dresden on Saturday, a week before state elections when far-right party AfD is projected to make huge gains.

Under the banner "indivisible", a broad coalition of artists, unionists and politicians gathered to urge voters to reject exclusion, which they argue is championed by right-wing extremists.

The three-hour march began in a relaxed atmosphere under the warm summer sun from 1200 GMT in the picturesque baroque city, one of the most popular tourism destinations in the former communist east.

But Dresden is also the cradle of the Islamophobic movement Pegida, and the state of Saxony is a stronghold of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party.

Many at the protest held aloft signs that read: "No place for Nazis" and "Racism is not an alternative".

One of the marchers, 27-year-old Berlin teacher Janna Rakowski, said she wanted "to show the people of Dresden that they are not alone in the fight against racism.

"We want to show our solidarity in this particular situation before the elections in Saxony," she told AFP.&nbsp;

A spokeswoman for the organisers, Susann Riske, said: "We want to do something against the current political climate and support those who oppose hatred and violence every day."

Greta Schmidt, a 66-year-old retiree from Dresden, held up a sign reading "Grandmas against the extreme right".

"The people are very dissatisfied... the big parties have sabotaged their chances," she said.

'Moment of truth'

Before the march started, organisers said they expected at least 10,000 people to turn up at the protest, while about 70 kilometres (40 miles) away, the co-leader of the AfD Alexander Gauland is due to address a rally in the city of Chemnitz.

An AfD candidate in the Saxony election, Nico Koehler, on Saturday denied his party is racist, calling such charges "propaganda designed to get left-wing parties into the state assembly".

He also called on other parties to enter into dialogue with the AfD.&nbsp;

"Democracy starts with interpersonal dialogue... even with those you consider the enemy," he said at a campaign stall in Chemnitz.

New polls show the AfD party running neck and neck with Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU party in Saxony.

In the state of Brandenburg, the region surrounding Berlin, some surveys even see the AfD topping the polls, which would be a major blow for Merkel's junior coalition partners, the Social Democrats (SPD).

If a strong showing by the AfD is confirmed in both regional polls, it could throw Merkel's coalition into a new crisis by potentially heightening calls for the SPD to pull the plug on the partnership.

For the organisers of Saturday's march, the regional elections, together with October 27 polls in the state of Thuringia, will be the "moment of truth for democracy".

Under the banner #indivisible, the collective of activists managed to get a quarter of a million people on the streets in Berlin last October to defend inclusion and unity.

That march was organised with Germany still shocked by xenophobic attacks in a Saxony city, Chemnitz, in the aftermath of the stabbing of a German by a migrant.

AfD politicians then also joined in a silent march through Chemnitz alongside the head of Pegida, as well as neo-Nazis and other hooligans.

Since its entry into the Bundestag after the 2017 general election, the far-right AfD has shaken up German politics, including breaching taboos such as openly questioning Germany's atonement culture over World War II.&nbsp;

Its anti-immigrant and anti-Islam rhetoric has proved attractive to those resentful of Merkel's decision to let in more than a million asylum seekers since the 2015 refugee crisis.

The former communist east has been most receptive to the AfD, with part of the population feeling left behind economically as villages are depleted of younger inhabitants, many of whom have headed to western Germany for better-paying jobs or opportunities.

Thousands marched against hate and racism in the eastern German of city Dresden on Saturday, a week before state elections when far-right party AfD is projected to make huge gains.

Thousands marched against hate and racism in the eastern German of city Dresden on Saturday, a week before state elections when far-right party AfD is projected to make huge gains. Under the banner "indivisible", a broad coalition of artists, unionists and politicians gathered to urge voters to reject exclusion, which they argue is championed by right-wing extremists. The three-hour march began in a relaxed atmosphere under the warm summer sun from 1200 GMT in the picturesque baroque city, one of the most popular tourism destinations in the former communist east. But Dresden is also the cradle of the Islamophobic movement Pegida, and the state of Saxony is a stronghold of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party. Many at the protest held aloft signs that read: "No place for Nazis" and "Racism is not an alternative". One of the marchers, 27-year-old Berlin teacher Janna Rakowski, said she wanted "to show the people of Dresden that they are not alone in the fight against racism. "We want to show our solidarity in this particular situation before the elections in Saxony," she told AFP. A spokeswoman for the organisers, Susann Riske, said: "We want to do something against the current political climate and support those who oppose hatred and violence every day." Greta Schmidt, a 66-year-old retiree from Dresden, held up a sign reading "Grandmas against the extreme right". "The people are very dissatisfied... the big parties have sabotaged their chances," she said. 'Moment of truth' Before the march started, organisers said they expected at least 10,000 people to turn up at the protest, while about 70 kilometres (40 miles) away, the co-leader of the AfD Alexander Gauland is due to address a rally in the city of Chemnitz. An AfD candidate in the Saxony election, Nico Koehler, on Saturday denied his party is racist, calling such charges "propaganda designed to get left-wing parties into the state assembly". He also called on other parties to enter into dialogue with the AfD. "Democracy starts with interpersonal dialogue... even with those you consider the enemy," he said at a campaign stall in Chemnitz. New polls show the AfD party running neck and neck with Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU party in Saxony. In the state of Brandenburg, the region surrounding Berlin, some surveys even see the AfD topping the polls, which would be a major blow for Merkel's junior coalition partners, the Social Democrats (SPD). If a strong showing by the AfD is confirmed in both regional polls, it could throw Merkel's coalition into a new crisis by potentially heightening calls for the SPD to pull the plug on the partnership. For the organisers of Saturday's march, the regional elections, together with October 27 polls in the state of Thuringia, will be the "moment of truth for democracy". Under the banner #indivisible, the collective of activists managed to get a quarter of a million people on the streets in Berlin last October to defend inclusion and unity. That march was organised with Germany still shocked by xenophobic attacks in a Saxony city, Chemnitz, in the aftermath of the stabbing of a German by a migrant. AfD politicians then also joined in a silent march through Chemnitz alongside the head of Pegida, as well as neo-Nazis and other hooligans. Since its entry into the Bundestag after the 2017 general election, the far-right AfD has shaken up German politics, including breaching taboos such as openly questioning Germany's atonement culture over World War II. Its anti-immigrant and anti-Islam rhetoric has proved attractive to those resentful of Merkel's decision to let in more than a million asylum seekers since the 2015 refugee crisis. The former communist east has been most receptive to the AfD, with part of the population feeling left behind economically as villages are depleted of younger inhabitants, many of whom have headed to western Germany for better-paying jobs or opportunities.

Thousands march against racism in Dresden ahead of key state polls

Some 5,000 supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) marched through the streets of Berlin on Sunday, but they were heavily outnumbered by anti-AfD demonstrations.

The AfD's anti-immigration, anti-European Union and anti-Muslim messages helped it become the third largest party in the German Bundestag in last September's vote but it has had little impact on parliamentary debate since then.

The AfD demonstrators, bussed in from around Germany, marched from Berlin's main station, down the banks of the Spree river to the Brandenburg Gate near the German parliament.

But there were around 20,000 anti-AfD protesters - according to police estimates - most of them younger people, highlighting the divisions that have emerged in Germany since the 2015 refugee crisis.

The AfD supporters, mostly older, waved German and AfD flags and carried placards demanding "Democracy not Merkelatorship."

Senior AfD lawmaker Beatrix von Storch, who addressed the supporters as they set off from the central station, said: "The rule of Islam in Germany is the rule of evil."

Berliners responded with at least 13 registered counter-demonstrations. These included one by the city's club scene, which put on a techno music party, aiming to "Bass the AfD away" with music blasting from speakers on 20 public address trucks.

"We want to be loud enough to drown out the racist speeches," an activist named Rosa told RBB public television. The thudding techno beat echoed across the city centre on Sunday afternoon.

Another group of anti-AfD protesters were on a boat on the Spree river holding up placards saying "You stink!"

The AfD is now the largest opposition party following the deal between Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats to renew their grand coalition.

As a result, the AfD, founded as an anti-European Union party by a group of academics in 2013, has a host of powerful committee chairmanships, but has so far failed to capitalise on them.

Sunday's protests were broadly peaceful, with only one minor injury reported amid a heavy police presence.

The AfD's anti-immigration, anti-European Union and anti-Muslim messages helped it become the third largest party in the German Bundestag in last September's vote but it has had little impact on parliamentary debate since then

Some 5,000 supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) marched through the streets of Berlin on Sunday, but they were heavily outnumbered by anti-AfD demonstrations. The AfD's anti-immigration, anti-European Union and anti-Muslim messages helped it become the third largest party in the German Bundestag in last September's vote but it has had little impact on parliamentary debate since then. The AfD demonstrators, bussed in from around Germany, marched from Berlin's main station, down the banks of the Spree river to the Brandenburg Gate near the German parliament. But there were around 20,000 anti-AfD protesters - according to police estimates - most of them younger people, highlighting the divisions that have emerged in Germany since the 2015 refugee crisis. The AfD supporters, mostly older, waved German and AfD flags and carried placards demanding "Democracy not Merkelatorship." Senior AfD lawmaker Beatrix von Storch, who addressed the supporters as they set off from the central station, said: "The rule of Islam in Germany is the rule of evil." Berliners responded with at least 13 registered counter-demonstrations. These included one by the city's club scene, which put on a techno music party, aiming to "Bass the AfD away" with music blasting from speakers on 20 public address trucks. "We want to be loud enough to drown out the racist speeches," an activist named Rosa told RBB public television. The thudding techno beat echoed across the city centre on Sunday afternoon. Another group of anti-AfD protesters were on a boat on the Spree river holding up placards saying "You stink!" The AfD is now the largest opposition party following the deal between Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats to renew their grand coalition. As a result, the AfD, founded as an anti-European Union party by a group of academics in 2013, has a host of powerful committee chairmanships, but has so far failed to capitalise on them. Sunday's protests were broadly peaceful, with only one minor injury reported amid a heavy police presence.

Germany's far-right AfD supporters outnumbered by protesters in Berlin

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/lesser-known-facts-about-angela-merkel-set-to-return-as-germanys-chancellor-20574">Chancellor Angela Merkel failed to reach a</a> compromise on Sunday night on forming a coalition government with the Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens over hot-button issues in Germany.

Merkel&#39;s <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/germany-prominent-afd-leader-quits-party-hours-after-election-success-20651">conservative party has been trying</a> to reach a comprise with the FDP and Greens over immigration, climate change, European Union and taxes but hasn&#39;t reached a deal on any issue. The deadline for talks on Sunday night passed with no announcement being made.

FDP leader Christian Lindner refused to rejoin talks putting Merkel&#39;s fourth term in office in peril.

&quot;Today there was no progress but rather there were setbacks because targeted compromises were questioned, it is better not to rule than to rule falsely. Goodbye!,&quot; Lindner said.

Merkel would be forced to lead a minority government or call for fresh elections if the coalition fails to come together strengthing the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany) which has consistently said it was against immigration in the country.

Julia Kloeckner, deputy chair of Merkel&#39;s Christian Democrats said,&quot;Everyone has to take a success back home. People must ask themselves if they are prepared for this to fail over details.&quot;

However, the Greens are unmoved with future of talks in danger of collapsing completely.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Greens chairwoman Nicola Beer said: &quot;The FDP is now waiting for the Greens and the conservatives to see how far they are prepared to go and if we can then look each other in the eye.&quot;

Merkel&#39;s Christian Democrats (CDU) and Bavaria&#39;s Christian Social Union now face an uncertain future with numbers in the German Parliament the Bundestag against them, the Greens and FDP are however unmoved.

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Merkel's conservative party has been trying to reach a comprise with the FDP and Greens over immigration, climate change, European Union and taxes

Chancellor Angela Merkel failed to reach a compromise on Sunday night on forming a coalition government with the Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens over hot-button issues in Germany. Merkel's conservative party has been trying to reach a comprise with the FDP and Greens over immigration, climate change, European Union and taxes but hasn't reached a deal on any issue. The deadline for talks on Sunday night passed with no announcement being made. FDP leader Christian Lindner refused to rejoin talks putting Merkel's fourth term in office in peril. "Today there was no progress but rather there were setbacks because targeted compromises were questioned, it is better not to rule than to rule falsely. Goodbye!," Lindner said. Merkel would be forced to lead a minority government or call for fresh elections if the coalition fails to come together strengthing the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany) which has consistently said it was against immigration in the country. Julia Kloeckner, deputy chair of Merkel's Christian Democrats said,"Everyone has to take a success back home. People must ask themselves if they are prepared for this to fail over details." However, the Greens are unmoved with future of talks in danger of collapsing completely. Greens chairwoman Nicola Beer said: "The FDP is now waiting for the Greens and the conservatives to see how far they are prepared to go and if we can then look each other in the eye." Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and Bavaria's Christian Social Union now face an uncertain future with numbers in the German Parliament the Bundestag against them, the Greens and FDP are however unmoved.

Merkel's fourth term in doubt as talks on forming coalition government fail

Hours after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/weakened-angela-merkel-wins-fourth-term-hit-by-nationalist-earthquake-20579">the success of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party</a> in the German elections, one of its most prominent leaders Frauke Petry parted ways with her party, stating there were &quot;disagreements over content&quot;.

She said she could not stand with an &quot;anarchistic party&quot; that lacked a credible plan to govern and said she would sit in parliament as an independent.

The 42-year-old chemist stormed out of a press conference in which she had sat with her newly-elected colleagues and said she would like to have a &quot;conservative new start&quot;.

&quot;I&#39;ve decided I won&#39;t be part of the AfD&#39;s group in the German parliament but will initially be an individual member of parliament in the lower house,&quot; Petry said as she left the party&#39;s news conference.

On Facebook, she criticised party members for their extreme statements.

In a jolt to chancellor Angela Merkel, the anti-immigrant AfD won 12.6 per cent of the votes in Sunday&#39;s election making the party the first far-right group to win seats in the Bundestag since the 1950s.

Petry, who served as co-leader of the AfD, had come into conflict with other senior figures in the party in the last few months, saying she understood why some voters were alarmed at some of their radical rhetoric.

She had distanced herself from other top AfD candidates before the election and was also criticised for not supporting Bjoern Hoecke, a senior party official she wanted to have expelled for denying that Adolf Hitler was evil and calling Berlin&#39;s Holocaust Memorial a &quot;monument of shame&quot;.

Petry was once considered a radical for transforming the AfD from an obscure group opposed to euro zone financial bailouts into Germany&#39;s leading anti-immigration party.

Analysts say it is unlikely that Petry&rsquo;s sudden departure will mean much for the party.

The AfD has long been riven by infighting. Commentators have predicted that its divisions could be amplified by its entry onto the national political stage.

Frauke Petry parted ways with her party, stating she could not stand with an 'anarchistic party' that lacked a credible plan to govern

Hours after the success of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the German elections, one of its most prominent leaders Frauke Petry parted ways with her party, stating there were "disagreements over content". She said she could not stand with an "anarchistic party" that lacked a credible plan to govern and said she would sit in parliament as an independent. The 42-year-old chemist stormed out of a press conference in which she had sat with her newly-elected colleagues and said she would like to have a "conservative new start". "I've decided I won't be part of the AfD's group in the German parliament but will initially be an individual member of parliament in the lower house," Petry said as she left the party's news conference. On Facebook, she criticised party members for their extreme statements. In a jolt to chancellor Angela Merkel, the anti-immigrant AfD won 12.6 per cent of the votes in Sunday's election making the party the first far-right group to win seats in the Bundestag since the 1950s. Petry, who served as co-leader of the AfD, had come into conflict with other senior figures in the party in the last few months, saying she understood why some voters were alarmed at some of their radical rhetoric. She had distanced herself from other top AfD candidates before the election and was also criticised for not supporting Bjoern Hoecke, a senior party official she wanted to have expelled for denying that Adolf Hitler was evil and calling Berlin's Holocaust Memorial a "monument of shame". Petry was once considered a radical for transforming the AfD from an obscure group opposed to euro zone financial bailouts into Germany's leading anti-immigration party. Analysts say it is unlikely that Petry’s sudden departure will mean much for the party. The AfD has long been riven by infighting. Commentators have predicted that its divisions could be amplified by its entry onto the national political stage.

Germany: Prominent AfD leader quits party hours after election success

Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to cruise to victory in elections Sunday but also to face the breakthrough into parliament of hard-right populists for the first time in Germany&#39;s post-war history.

Voting begins at 0600 GMT in Europe&#39;s biggest economy and exit polls are announced at 1600 GMT, with few expecting surprises given Merkel&#39;s double-digit poll lead.

For months, the woman now dubbed the &quot;eternal chancellor&quot; has been the favourite over her centre-left rival Martin Schulz and looked set to win another term and match the 16-year reign of her mentor Helmut Kohl.

To many in the West, a fourth Merkel victory will come as a relief in a turbulent world, with hopes she will serve as a calm-headed counterweight to US President Donald Trump and Russia&#39;s Vladimir Putin and as the key EU ally to reformist French President Emmanuel Macron.

But the election is also expected to mark a milestone for the four-year-old Alternative for Germany (AfD) which, like right-wing populists elsewhere, rails against migrants, Muslims and mainstream parties.

It has been polling at 11-13 percent and could become Germany&#39;s third strongest party, driven by anger over the influx of one million migrants and refugees, many from war-torn Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, since 2015.

&quot;The AfD&#39;s entry into the Bundestag marks an epochal step forward for the far right,&quot; said Joerg Forbrig of think-tank the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

By entering parliament, he said, &quot;the xenophobic, revisionist and anti-European political force&quot; will have heightened visibility and access to campaign finance, dozens of offices and hundreds of staff.

After a &quot;vicious&quot; campaign, in which the AfD demanded an end to German guilt over two world wars, Forbig warned that &quot;German democracy is about to face its biggest stress test ever&quot;.

At Merkel&#39;s final major stump speech Friday in the southern city of Munich, right-wing activists tried to drown her out with whistles and vuvuzelas and chants of &quot;get lost&quot;.

But the 63-year-old refused to be derailed from her stability-and-prosperity mantra, telling the crowd that &quot;the future of Germany will definitely not be built with whistles and hollers&quot;.

Schulz, for his part, recalled with pride the SPD&#39;s history of resisting the Nazi regime and told a Berlin rally that &quot;this Alternative for Germany is no alternative. They are a shame for our nation.&quot;

Aside from the populist noise, the past two months of campaigning have been widely criticised as lacklustre, with few hot-button issues dividing the main contenders.

The more outspoken Schulz, former president of the European Parliament, has told voters to reject Merkel&#39;s &quot;sleeping-pill politics&quot; and vote against &quot;another four years of stagnation and lethargy&quot;.

In greying Germany, more than half of the 61 million voters are aged 52 or older, and especially Merkel&#39;s conservatives have pitched a low-key and reassuring message of stability and prosperity.

On Saturday, Merkel -- who has signalled she was running again mainly out of a sense of duty -- urged her supporters to cast their ballots with a folksy call to &quot;bring home the bacon&quot;.

For the past term, Merkel&#39;s CDU has ruled with the SPD as its junior partner in a &quot;grand coalition&quot;, marked by broad agreement on major topics, from foreign policy to migration.

Governing in Merkel&#39;s shadow has cost the SPD voter support, and polls give it 21-22 percent compared to 34-36 percent for Merkel&#39;s conservative bloc, which also includes the Bavarian CSU.

Looking at the surveys, many rank-and-file SPD members believe the traditional working class party would benefit from a stint in opposition to rekindle its fighting spirit.

This would leave the presumed winner Merkel in need of new coalition partners -- possibly the liberal and pro-business Free Democrats, who are hoping for a comeback after crashing out of parliament four years ago.

Another potential partner would be the ecologist and left-leaning Greens party, which, however, starkly differs with the FDP on issues from climate change to migration policy.

For months, she is dubbed as the "eternal chancellor" and has been a favourite over her centre-left rival Martin Schulz

Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to cruise to victory in elections Sunday but also to face the breakthrough into parliament of hard-right populists for the first time in Germany's post-war history. Voting begins at 0600 GMT in Europe's biggest economy and exit polls are announced at 1600 GMT, with few expecting surprises given Merkel's double-digit poll lead. For months, the woman now dubbed the "eternal chancellor" has been the favourite over her centre-left rival Martin Schulz and looked set to win another term and match the 16-year reign of her mentor Helmut Kohl. To many in the West, a fourth Merkel victory will come as a relief in a turbulent world, with hopes she will serve as a calm-headed counterweight to US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin and as the key EU ally to reformist French President Emmanuel Macron. But the election is also expected to mark a milestone for the four-year-old Alternative for Germany (AfD) which, like right-wing populists elsewhere, rails against migrants, Muslims and mainstream parties. It has been polling at 11-13 percent and could become Germany's third strongest party, driven by anger over the influx of one million migrants and refugees, many from war-torn Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, since 2015. "The AfD's entry into the Bundestag marks an epochal step forward for the far right," said Joerg Forbrig of think-tank the German Marshall Fund of the United States. By entering parliament, he said, "the xenophobic, revisionist and anti-European political force" will have heightened visibility and access to campaign finance, dozens of offices and hundreds of staff. After a "vicious" campaign, in which the AfD demanded an end to German guilt over two world wars, Forbig warned that "German democracy is about to face its biggest stress test ever". At Merkel's final major stump speech Friday in the southern city of Munich, right-wing activists tried to drown her out with whistles and vuvuzelas and chants of "get lost". But the 63-year-old refused to be derailed from her stability-and-prosperity mantra, telling the crowd that "the future of Germany will definitely not be built with whistles and hollers". Schulz, for his part, recalled with pride the SPD's history of resisting the Nazi regime and told a Berlin rally that "this Alternative for Germany is no alternative. They are a shame for our nation." Aside from the populist noise, the past two months of campaigning have been widely criticised as lacklustre, with few hot-button issues dividing the main contenders. The more outspoken Schulz, former president of the European Parliament, has told voters to reject Merkel's "sleeping-pill politics" and vote against "another four years of stagnation and lethargy". In greying Germany, more than half of the 61 million voters are aged 52 or older, and especially Merkel's conservatives have pitched a low-key and reassuring message of stability and prosperity. On Saturday, Merkel -- who has signalled she was running again mainly out of a sense of duty -- urged her supporters to cast their ballots with a folksy call to "bring home the bacon". For the past term, Merkel's CDU has ruled with the SPD as its junior partner in a "grand coalition", marked by broad agreement on major topics, from foreign policy to migration. Governing in Merkel's shadow has cost the SPD voter support, and polls give it 21-22 percent compared to 34-36 percent for Merkel's conservative bloc, which also includes the Bavarian CSU. Looking at the surveys, many rank-and-file SPD members believe the traditional working class party would benefit from a stint in opposition to rekindle its fighting spirit. This would leave the presumed winner Merkel in need of new coalition partners -- possibly the liberal and pro-business Free Democrats, who are hoping for a comeback after crashing out of parliament four years ago. Another potential partner would be the ecologist and left-leaning Greens party, which, however, starkly differs with the FDP on issues from climate change to migration policy.

Merkel heads for German poll win, hard-right AfD for first seats

Thousands of leftist demonstrators tried to disrupt a party congress by Germany&#39;s right-wing populist AfD on Saturday marked by festering internal rivalries five months before a general election.&nbsp;

Around 50,000 demonstrators were expected to mobilise during the two-day gathering of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party in the western city of Cologne, with 4,000 police officers dispatched to keep the peace.

But as the 600 delegates began filing into the congress venue, a hotel in the city centre, singing and chanting demonstrators attempted to block them from passing through security barricades, leading to scuffles with authorities.

One police officer escorting party members into the suffered an injury to his face, leading to the arrest of a male protester.

The AfD, now represented in 11 of Germany&#39;s 16 states, aims to sign off on a programme for its campaign that it hopes will pave the way for the party to enter the national parliament for the first time in its four-year history.

After weeks of bitter infighting, co-leader Frauke Petry made the shock announcement Wednesday that she would not seek to lead the AfD&#39;s campaign.

The news left the party reeling and set the stage for a showdown between populist and more radical, hard-right forces.

&quot;(Petry) has been unable to stop the AfD, which began as a party of euro critics, from becoming more and more a catch-all for racists, right-wing nationalists and the far right,&quot; Cologne&#39;s daily Stadt-Anzeiger said.

&quot;The fight within the AfD rages on.&quot;

Founded in 2013 on a eurosceptic platform, the AfD seized on Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s decision to let in more than one million asylum seekers since 2015, transforming the German political landscape.&nbsp;

But its fortunes have declined as the number of new arrivals has dwindled, and all of Germany&#39;s mainstream parties have ruled out working with it should it clear the five-per cent hurdle to representation in the September 24 election.

&nbsp;Opinion polls show the AfD at between seven and 11 per cent, a steep drop from the 15 per cent support it drew only late last year.

Merkel is seeking a fourth term after nearly 12 years in power and her conservative Christian Democrats are currently leading the polls.

The telegenic Petry, a 41-year-old trained chemist who is pregnant with her fifth child, has aligned herself with kindred spirits across Europe, including far-right firebrand Marine Le Pen, one of the frontrunners for the first round of French elections Sunday.

But given the long shadow still cast by Germany&#39;s Nazi past, Petry has argued the AfD must make itself more palatable with a more moderate-sounding &quot;middle-class&quot; platform she will put to a vote at the congress.

The stated goal is to become Germany&#39;s ruling party by 2021.

Denouncing &quot;provocations&quot; by party officials, Petry has called for the ouster of an AfD state leader, Bjoern Hoecke, who in January sparked outrage by slamming Berlin&#39;s vast Holocaust memorial as a &quot;monument of shame&quot;.

Although Hoecke has been barred from attending the congress, some delegates have said they will put forward a motion to keep him in the party.

Petry&#39;s chief rival, 76-year-old Alexander Gauland, a hardline defector from Merkel&#39;s CDU, has said he would back the initiative.

Analysts say the vast majority of the AfD&#39;s core supporters are far to the right of the political spectrum.

However they say there is little appetite among most German voters for radical change, particularly after the victories of Donald Trump in the United States and the Brexit camp in Britain.

&quot;In terms of its voters, Petry&#39;s attempt to make the AfD a middle-class mainstream party is a very unrealistic strategy,&quot; Robert Vehrkamp of the Bertelsmann Foundation think tank told Spiegel Online.

The news website said the party&#39;s inner turmoil also diminished the threat it posed to the establishment in Europe&#39;s top economy.

&quot;While in the rest of Europe, opponents of immigration and the EU are on the march, the AfD is busy tearing itself apart,&quot; it said.

&quot;That is good news for the traditional parties and the defenders of liberal values in Germany -- at least in its current state, no one needs to fear the AfD.&quot;

(AFP)

Around 50,000 demonstrators were expected to mobilise during the two-day gathering of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany

Thousands of leftist demonstrators tried to disrupt a party congress by Germany's right-wing populist AfD on Saturday marked by festering internal rivalries five months before a general election. Around 50,000 demonstrators were expected to mobilise during the two-day gathering of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party in the western city of Cologne, with 4,000 police officers dispatched to keep the peace. But as the 600 delegates began filing into the congress venue, a hotel in the city centre, singing and chanting demonstrators attempted to block them from passing through security barricades, leading to scuffles with authorities. One police officer escorting party members into the suffered an injury to his face, leading to the arrest of a male protester. The AfD, now represented in 11 of Germany's 16 states, aims to sign off on a programme for its campaign that it hopes will pave the way for the party to enter the national parliament for the first time in its four-year history. After weeks of bitter infighting, co-leader Frauke Petry made the shock announcement Wednesday that she would not seek to lead the AfD's campaign. The news left the party reeling and set the stage for a showdown between populist and more radical, hard-right forces. "(Petry) has been unable to stop the AfD, which began as a party of euro critics, from becoming more and more a catch-all for racists, right-wing nationalists and the far right," Cologne's daily Stadt-Anzeiger said. "The fight within the AfD rages on." Founded in 2013 on a eurosceptic platform, the AfD seized on Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to let in more than one million asylum seekers since 2015, transforming the German political landscape. But its fortunes have declined as the number of new arrivals has dwindled, and all of Germany's mainstream parties have ruled out working with it should it clear the five-per cent hurdle to representation in the September 24 election. Opinion polls show the AfD at between seven and 11 per cent, a steep drop from the 15 per cent support it drew only late last year. Merkel is seeking a fourth term after nearly 12 years in power and her conservative Christian Democrats are currently leading the polls. The telegenic Petry, a 41-year-old trained chemist who is pregnant with her fifth child, has aligned herself with kindred spirits across Europe, including far-right firebrand Marine Le Pen, one of the frontrunners for the first round of French elections Sunday. But given the long shadow still cast by Germany's Nazi past, Petry has argued the AfD must make itself more palatable with a more moderate-sounding "middle-class" platform she will put to a vote at the congress. The stated goal is to become Germany's ruling party by 2021. Denouncing "provocations" by party officials, Petry has called for the ouster of an AfD state leader, Bjoern Hoecke, who in January sparked outrage by slamming Berlin's vast Holocaust memorial as a "monument of shame". Although Hoecke has been barred from attending the congress, some delegates have said they will put forward a motion to keep him in the party. Petry's chief rival, 76-year-old Alexander Gauland, a hardline defector from Merkel's CDU, has said he would back the initiative. Analysts say the vast majority of the AfD's core supporters are far to the right of the political spectrum. However they say there is little appetite among most German voters for radical change, particularly after the victories of Donald Trump in the United States and the Brexit camp in Britain. "In terms of its voters, Petry's attempt to make the AfD a middle-class mainstream party is a very unrealistic strategy," Robert Vehrkamp of the Bertelsmann Foundation think tank told Spiegel Online. The news website said the party's inner turmoil also diminished the threat it posed to the establishment in Europe's top economy. "While in the rest of Europe, opponents of immigration and the EU are on the march, the AfD is busy tearing itself apart," it said. "That is good news for the traditional parties and the defenders of liberal values in Germany -- at least in its current state, no one needs to fear the AfD." (AFP)

Clashes in Germany's Cologne as anti-immigration party AfD stages showdown

<div>Islamophobia has risen markedly in Germany, a study published today showed, underscoring the tensions simmering in German society after more than one million migrants, mostly Muslims, arrived last year. 
 
Every second respondent in the study of 2,420 people said they sometimes felt like a foreigner in their own country due to the many Muslims here, the number of which has gone&nbsp;up to&nbsp;43 per cent in 2014 from&nbsp;30.2 per cent in 2009. 
 
The number of people who believe Muslims should be forbidden from coming to Germany has also risen, the study showed, and now stands at just above 40 per cent, up from about a fifth in 2009. 
 
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Leipzig in co-operation with the Heinrich Boell Foundation, the Rosa-Luxemburg Foundation and the Otto-Brenner foundation. 
 
The influx of migrants has fuelled support for the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party that wants to ban minarets and the burqa and has described Islam as incompatible with the German constitution. 
 
The number of attacks on refugee shelters has also risen.&nbsp; 
 
Supporters of the AfD were most likely to favour stopping Muslims from coming to Germany while Green voters were most likely to disagree with the statement that Muslims made them feel like foreigners, the survey found. 
 
On Monday German President Joachim Gauck warned against demonising Muslims and against polarisation along religious and ethnic lines in German society when he joined a Ramadan dinner in Berlin.&nbsp; 
 
Germany is home to nearly four million Muslims, about five per cent of the total population. Many of the longer established Muslim community in Germany came from Turkey to find work, but those who have arrived over the past year have mostly been fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. 
 
The study also examined extreme right-wing views towards other groups in Germany. 
&quot;While general prejudice against migrants fell slightly, the focus of resentment towards asylums seekers, Muslims as well as Sinti and Roma, increased,&quot; the study&#39;s authors said. 
 
The number of those surveyed that believed Sinti and Roma peoples tended towards criminality rose to nearly 60 per cent, while slightly more than 80 per cent of respondents wanted the state not to be too generous when examining asylum applications. 
 
Almost 40 per cent of those surveyed in east Germany agreed with the statement that foreigners only came to Germany to take advantage of its social welfare benefits, compared to about 30 per cent of those in the west of the country.</div>

Over a million Muslim migrants arrived in Germany in 2015, making Germans feel like foreigners in their own land

Islamophobia has risen markedly in Germany, a study published today showed, underscoring the tensions simmering in German society after more than one million migrants, mostly Muslims, arrived last year. Every second respondent in the study of 2,420 people said they sometimes felt like a foreigner in their own country due to the many Muslims here, the number of which has gone up to 43 per cent in 2014 from 30.2 per cent in 2009. The number of people who believe Muslims should be forbidden from coming to Germany has also risen, the study showed, and now stands at just above 40 per cent, up from about a fifth in 2009. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Leipzig in co-operation with the Heinrich Boell Foundation, the Rosa-Luxemburg Foundation and the Otto-Brenner foundation. The influx of migrants has fuelled support for the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party that wants to ban minarets and the burqa and has described Islam as incompatible with the German constitution. The number of attacks on refugee shelters has also risen. Supporters of the AfD were most likely to favour stopping Muslims from coming to Germany while Green voters were most likely to disagree with the statement that Muslims made them feel like foreigners, the survey found. On Monday German President Joachim Gauck warned against demonising Muslims and against polarisation along religious and ethnic lines in German society when he joined a Ramadan dinner in Berlin. Germany is home to nearly four million Muslims, about five per cent of the total population. Many of the longer established Muslim community in Germany came from Turkey to find work, but those who have arrived over the past year have mostly been fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. The study also examined extreme right-wing views towards other groups in Germany. "While general prejudice against migrants fell slightly, the focus of resentment towards asylums seekers, Muslims as well as Sinti and Roma, increased," the study's authors said. The number of those surveyed that believed Sinti and Roma peoples tended towards criminality rose to nearly 60 per cent, while slightly more than 80 per cent of respondents wanted the state not to be too generous when examining asylum applications. Almost 40 per cent of those surveyed in east Germany agreed with the statement that foreigners only came to Germany to take advantage of its social welfare benefits, compared to about 30 per cent of those in the west of the country.

Islamophobia on rise in Germany: Study

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