German wants ‘open’ debate about immigration

The German government says it wants a debate about immigration but adds there’s no place in the country for those who incite hatred against religious or ethnic minorities.

Anti-Islam rallies in German cities have been growing in recent weeks. More than 10,000 people are expected to attend such a protest Monday in Dresden. Members of Germany’s far right have been among the protesters.

Government spokesman Steffen Seibert told reporters Monday that those demonstrating should “think about who they are joining up with and who they are being used by.”

But in light of a sharp increase in asylum requests this year, especially by Syrian refugees, Seibert said the issue of immigration “is so important that there needs to be a serious and open and also very nuance debate.”