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Roterdam police disperse Quran burning rally planned by Islamophobic group Pegida

Anti-Islam movement Pegida earlier announced that they would gather in the city center of Rotterdam on Saturday to burn a copy of Quran, Muslims' holy book. The Dutch police told Anadolu Agency that Edwin Wagensveld, head of Pegida Netherlands, who ignored the warnings and continued his hate speech, was arrested, while other members were dispersed.

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Roterdam police disperse Quran burning rally planned by Islamophobic group Pegida

Dutch police on Saturday arrested a leader of far-right Islamophobic group Pegida, which ended the planned Quran burning rally of the group in Rotterdam before it started.

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Roterdam police disperse Quran burning rally planned by Islamophobic group Pegida

Anti-Islam movement Pegida earlier announced that they would gather in the city center of Rotterdam on Saturday to burn a copy of Quran, Muslims' holy book.

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Roterdam police disperse Quran burning rally planned by Islamophobic group Pegida
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Roterdam police disperse Quran burning rally planned by Islamophobic group Pegida

As a small group of people attended the demonstration, the police warned the Pegida members on the grounds that they used hate speech.

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Roterdam police disperse Quran burning rally planned by Islamophobic group Pegida

The Dutch police told Anadolu Agency that Edwin Wagensveld, head of Pegida Netherlands, who ignored the warnings and continued his hate speech, was arrested, while other members were dispersed.

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Roterdam police disperse Quran burning rally planned by Islamophobic group Pegida

Meanwhile, several Muslim communities in the Netherlands held a counter-demonstration in the same square in Rotterdam on Saturday.

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Roterdam police disperse Quran burning rally planned by Islamophobic group Pegida
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Roterdam police disperse Quran burning rally planned by Islamophobic group Pegida

Pegida announced two weeks ago that a similar demonstration would be held in The Hague on Sunday.