Anti-Nazi protest
August 14, 2010
A court in Lueneburg in the western state of Lower Saxony has overturned a previous court decision to ban a left-wing group from organizing an anti-Nazi protest.
The court however said the counter protesters had to remain in one place and both demonstrations would take place apart from each other.
The move comes after a court in Hanover on Friday declined to authorize the counter demonstration organized by the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB).
The court had said the far-right extremists would be allowed to march unopposed because the neo-Nazis registered for permission first and because of fears that violence-prone anarchists could be attracted to the counter demonstration.
DGB voices anger at ruling
The decision prompted anger among DGB officials. "We've been demonstrating for years without a problem," The DGB's regional chief Sebastian Wertmueller said. The DGB has said it expects around 2,000 participants to attend Saturday's demonstration.
Authorities in Bad Nenndorf in Lower Saxony expect around 1,000 far-right extremists to take part in a neo-Nazi "funeral march" on Saturday.
The march is to commemorate Nazis who were interrogated by British forces in Bad Nenndorf between 1945 and 1947. There are accusations that the troops abused their detainees.
Neo-Nazis have been holding the "funeral march" since 2006 and the event has grown year on year.
Author: Catherine Bolsover (AFP/dpa)
Editor: Sonia Phalnikar