Anti-Islam group pleased with chaos caused in Enschede pig's blood stunt; Police investigating
Members of anti-Islamic organization Pegida Nederland held an early Sunday morning protest action against the construction of a mosque in Enschede. They splattered pig's blood around the location, set up a cross with a makeshift church inside a party tent, and transmitted church bell sounds through a megaphone, all as a form of protest against Islam.
The Major of Enschede, Onno van Veldhuizen called the action "disgusting" and compared the group to the Ku Klux Klan, saying that their organization has no place in his city. He said he would have preferred a dialogue between the representatives of the proposed mosque, and the anti-Islamists.
"Those are only words that call out to attract hate and violence. And that's not what words are meant for in a democratic constitutional state as the one we live in," Van Veldhuizen said.
On the other hand, Edwin Wagensveld, the leader of Pegida Nederland, was reportedly enthusiastic when speaking with reporters on the phone. "I find it fantastic; everybody is writing about our action. We just gained points. I thank the mayor."
Talking about provoking violence, Wagensveld replied, "You know what a provocation is? To build a house of hate, because that's how we call a mosque. The biggest one of the Netherlands. That is a provocation!"
He continued to say he would do anything he could to prevent the mosque's construction.
The municipality of Enschede is investigating which administrative measures could be taken against the group, while police and justice both were investigating if Pegida broke any laws during the Sunday protest.
