Thousands march in Germany in support of refugees
BERLIN: Thousands of people marched through German cities on Saturday to protest against EU policy on refugees and support NGOs helping rescue migrants in the Mediterranean.
Around 12,000 people attended a rally in Berlin, local radio reported, while Munich and Leipzig also saw protests called for by charity organisations including German-based Lifeline, whose rescue boats were recently prevented from entering Italian waters. The Lifeline vessel, with more than 230 migrants aboard, was ultimately forced to dock in Malta where it was impounded last month.
Some demonstrators on Saturday donned rescue vests and held up slogans including “humanity is not a political opinion” and “human rights don’t stop at the Mediterranean”.
German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, who backs a hard line on reining in migration, was accused of “exploiting the distress of those at sea” for political reasons, while protesters also vented their ire at Austrian leader Sebastian Kurz and Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini.
“They are flouting human rights, it is not acceptable and is repugnant,” rally organisers said beforehand.
More than 1,400 people have drowned attempting to cross the Mediterranean so far this year according to the International Organisation for Migration, the UN’s migration agency. — AFP