Europe's immigration crisis has taken a new turn after reports that New Year's attacks on women in Cologne and other cities were organized by immigrant groups. Swedish authorities now have to answer allegations that police covered up similar attacks on women in Sweden. While a wave of migrants from Northern Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia continues to arrive at Europe's door, governments struggle to stem anti-immigrant sentiment in the host countries.
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Germany's eastern city of Leipzig to call for tolerance in the wake of anti-immigrant protests organized by LEGIDA, a local offshoot of the German right-wing nationalist group PEGIDA. Anti-immigrant groups have long been protesting what they call the Islamization of the West, and reports of the New Year's Eve attacks on women in Cologne and other cities have boosted their cause.
"These Muslim refugees have begun a generalized terrorist attack - an attack against German women; against white, blonde women," said Tatjana Festerling, a leader of PEGIDA.
Xenophobic mobs were blamed for a series of attacks against Pakistani, Syrian and African men in Cologne Sunday night.
But many women came out to protest the violence.
"What PEGIDA does today makes me angry. We all know that PEGIDA, and hooligans who gathered today, couldn't care less about women's rights. They always come here to beat foreigners. For them, it's about doing propaganda, not fighting sexism," said Emily Michels, a member of Cologne Against Far-right.
Meanwhile, Swedish media reports accused the police of trying to cover up the fact that immigrants were behind most holiday attacks there. National police chief Dan Eliasson said Monday the allegations will be investigated.
"We have to get to the bottom of this. If there is any veracity to this information, it has to be remedied and we have to see if someone has done wrong," said Eliasson.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the uncontrolled immigration flow has to be stemmed.
"We have to intensify the fight against the causes that make people flee. And then we will be able, and that is what we want for this year, to noticeably reduce the number of refugees. That is clear. Because we also have the task to integrate them. That is what everyone talks about here -- what would be the best integration method? And we know, since the terrible events that night in Cologne, that for integration we need the openness of the society, but the refugees also need to be willing to follow our rules and values as well," said Merkel.
For some people who grew up in a culture of chaos and violence, it may be the hardest part of the integration.
Vocabulary
impaired:受损的
时不我待,珍惜现在Stop Waiting
一人一世界,且行且珍惜
美文赏析:面朝大海,春暖花开
美文赏析:面朝大海春暖花开
假设没有如果:你的世界将会改变
心灵鸡汤:爱情的时间船Love and Time
双语美文:勿以善小而不为
汉诗英译:任雨玲《飘来了丁香》
诗之灵性The Dexterity of Poetry
金色夕阳The Golden Sunset
汉诗英译:黄淮《墙头草》
心头荷花开,别问下一站幸福在何时
心灵鸡汤:9个技巧让你学会倾听
心灵鸡汤:生命的故事Story of Life
成长励志散文:风雨中的雄鹰
美文欣赏:我的心在高原上
心灵鸡汤:情暖今生The Gift
看世界与我们擦身而过Watch the World Go by
李开复强烈推荐:保持每天好心情的9条建议
美文欣赏:拿起笔还是放下
英语故事:天要下雨,娘要嫁人
英语励志美文欣赏:两颗橡树
美文赏析:对青春常在的感想
美文欣赏:生命的故事Story of Life
阳光总在风雨后Things Change
我祖母的情书回忆尽在其中
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英语美文:永远不要放弃希望
让昨日随风Letting Go of Yesterday
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