(NL Times) Mayor John Jorritsma of Eindhoven must allow Pegida to demonstrate in the city, according to National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen. By banning a protest the anti-Islam movement requested for Thursday, the mayor “damages Pegida’s fundamental right” to demonstrate, van Zutphen said to Omroep Brabant. “We must look carefully at whether we can give Pegida another chance to exercise that fundamental right.”
On Tuesday Jorritsma decided not to allow a Pegida demonstration on Thursday due to concerns of “serious disorder.” According to Jorritsma, the fact that Pegida wants their demonstration to take place during the sugar festival — the celebration that marks the end of Ramadan — is leading to a lot of “disbelief and resistance within the Muslim faith community.” “The police have strong indications that in addition to the counter-demonstrations, a counter-movement is being initiated that does not shun violence and aggression.”
