Bürgerbewegung Pax Europa
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Bürgerbewegung Pax Europa (BPE) is a German group which describes itself as a "Human Rights Organization for Freedom and Democracy Against Islamization".[1]
According to Hope Not Hate, it was founded 17 May 2008 by the merger of Bundesverband der Bürgerbewegungen (BDB) and Pax Europa.[2]
BPE was co-founded and formerly led by Udo Ulfkotte.[3] Prominent anti-Islam activist Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff is involved in the organisation's Austrian arm BPE Österreich.
Contents
Activities
SIOE and Vllaams Belang collaboration
Former leader Udo Ulfkotte cooperated with Stop Islamisation of Europe and the Belgian Vlaams Belang in planning a demonstration in Brussels in August 2007, but subsequently pulled out, leading to an acrimonious dispute with his former allies.[4] Ulfkotte reportedly cited racist incitement against Muslims as the reason for his resignation.[2]
Hosting Robert Spencer
BPE hosted a rally in Berlin on 3 October 2009, at which speakers included Robert Spencer, Rene Stadtkewitz, Michael Höhne-Pattberg, Willi Schwend and Achim Swietlik.[5]
Solidarity with Geert Wilders
BPE co-organised a demonstration outside the Dutch embassy in Berlin in 2010, in solidarity with anti-Islam Dutch politician Geert Wilders. It reportedly has close links with Wilders’ Party for Freedom (PVV) in the Netherlands[2].
Welcoming PEGIDA
In January 2015, BPE issued a press release welcoming and declaring its support for the anti-Islam movement PEGIDA, claiming that the concerns of those involved were justified as ‘Islamisation’ posed an existential threat to ‘liberal democratic societies’ in Europe and ‘national cultural identities’. It reprinted the 16-point ‘position paper’ of PEGIDA.[6].
OSCE submissions
Pax Europe regularly engages with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE, particularly its Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). Its submissions include:
- A 2009 document arguing that 'any effort to ban free speech in name of religious interests on the pretext of "Islamophobia" or racism must be prevented.'[7]
- A 2011 document produced jointly with the International Civil Liberties Alliance and Netwerk Karl Martell questioning why anoother OSCE Human Dimension Meeting participants had labelled it, Pax Europa, 'racist' and denying the validity of this term.[8]
- A 2013 complaint about Tommy Robinson and Kevin Carroll of the ENglish Defence League being arrested trying to protest shortly after the Woolwich murder which called for observers to be sent to the UK to assess the situation regarding freedom of movement.[9]
Publications
- BürgerForum online newsletter – since 2009
- 'The Minority Report: The admitted Islamization of Europe’ - a 496-page document, accessible via the internet archive.[10]
Affiliations
- Politically Incorrect (PI) blog – ‘close links’[2]
- Party for Freedom (PVV) – ‘close links’[2]
People
Board
- Willi Schwend – President and co-founder
- Rene Stadtkewitz – Deputy Chairman
- Eckhardt Kiwitt
- Gerhard Lipp
- Dieter Moll
- Wilfried Puhl-Schmidt[11]
Staff
- Conny Axel Meier - General Managing Director[12]
Other
- Achim Swietlik - Berlin chapter President
- Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff - BPE Österreich
- Rainer Grell
Contact
Notes
- ↑ Citizens' Movement Pax Europa, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, accessed 20 October 2009.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Hope Not Hate, Bürgerbewegung Pax Europa, Counterjihad Movement: Germany, accessed 19 January 2015
- ↑ Khaled Diab, Villains of the Pax, Comment is Free, guardian.co.uk, 11 September 2007.
- ↑ Khaled Diab, Villains of the Pax, Comment is Free, guardian.co.uk, 11 September 2007.
- ↑ Robert Spencer, Spencer at Human Rights Rally in Europe, Jihad Watch, 3 October 2009.
- ↑ PEGIDA: Presseerklärung und Stellungnahme der BPE, 7 January 2015, accessed 19 January 2015
- ↑ Paz Europa, SUPPLEMENTARY HUMAN DIMENSION MEETING ON FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF, 9-10 July 2009, accessed 20 January 2015
- ↑ Prevention of Racism, Xenophobia and Hate Crimes through Educational and Awareness-raising initiatives, 10-11 November 2011, accessed 20 January 2015
- ↑ Losing The Right to Walk The Streets of London, 27 September 2013, acessed 20 january 2015
- ↑ Der Minority Report: Die zugelassene Islamisierung Europas Pax Europa via the Internet Archive, 18 July 2006, accessed 19 January 2015
- ↑ Vorstand, Bürgerbewegung Pax Europa, accessed 20 October 2009.
- ↑ Citizens' Movement Pax Europa, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, accessed 20 October 2009.
