Far-right groups rally in Denmark against Islamic extremism

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Far-right groups from across Europe are holding a rally in the Danish city of Aarhus


• The far-right English Defence League says it wants to highlight the threat of Islamic extremism


• Left-wing demonstrators are expected to hold a counter-protest in the city


• Police are focused on ensuring the day passes peacefully, a spokesman says

(CNN) -- Far-right groups from across Europe are gathering in Denmark on Saturday for a rally they say is meant to make their governments act against the threat of Islamic extremism.

Those attending want to send a "clear message to the leaders of Europe," according to the English Defence League (EDL), one of the organizers of the event.

The rally is due to take place in the port city of Aarhus, with speeches from a dozen speakers.

"Our governments and our media behave as if Islamic extremism exists only in the head of a few extremists, and claim that it is unfair to make the connection between Islam and extremism," an online EDL statement says.

"This is ridiculous, just as it is ridiculous to claim that anyone who criticizes Islam must be an extremist in their own right. We believe in fair criticism of Islam and in the defence of our cultures, our nations, and the rights and freedoms that they have long protected."

Georg Husted, a spokesman for Aarhus police, said a few hundred people from the far right were expected to show up.

They are likely to be outnumbered by left-wing protesters -- perhaps as many as 3,000 -- holding a counter-demonstration, he said.

As well as homegrown protesters, police are expecting smaller groups from Scandinavian countries, Germany, Poland, Eastern Europe and the United Kingdom, he said.

Police are focused on making sure the day passes peacefully without confrontations between the groups, Husted said.

"We want this to be a peaceful day with no kinds of riots," he said. "We are going to support anyone who is going to talk and to demonstrate for what they feel, according to Danish law."

Most people gathering in Aarhus have peaceful intentions, he said, "but we also know there are certain kinds of groups who want confrontation, and we are ready to cope with them."

Police will be on duty in sufficient numbers to deal with any trouble, but their main aim is to ensure people's democratic right to hold peaceful demonstrations, he added.

In its statement, the EDL says that it does not believe that "the way to combat extremism is with more extremism." Racists and neo-Nazis are not welcome, and those supporting the rally have signed an agreement against extremism, it adds.

Groups from Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Finland and Denmark are among those who signed up, the EDL says, as well as a group called the American Defense Teams.

The British government has previously banned some marches by the EDL, whose members are widely seen as holding extremist views.

Source & Image : CNN World