Anti-Islam Pegida planning Scottish demonstration

Pegida staged its first march in the UK, in Newcastle at the weekend. Picture: Getty

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A GROUP which campaigns against what it calls the “Islamisation of Europe” is planning to hold its first Scottish demonstration in the centre of Edinburgh. Pegida Scotland is in talks with the police about a rally in Princes Street Gardens later this month.

The group, which was formed in Dresden, Germany, claims to be non-violent and non-racist, but has attracted support from elements of the far-right. According to the Pegida Scotland Facebook page, there are plans for an evening demonstration on 21 March, which will be open to “all patriot groups”. About 400 members of Pegida UK held a largely peaceful march in Newcastle at the weekend, which was met by a 2,000-strong counter demonstration. A spokesman for the group in Scotland said: “We’re just a bunch of like-minded people that’s against the Islamification of Europe. We won’t tolerate any neo-Nazi elements creeping in, we’re totally against that. We’re in contact with the German organisers quite a lot.”