Anti-immigrant leader claims ‘persecution’ as he becomes a refugee
THE leader of the German anti-immigrant movement Pegida has himself become a refugee claiming "persecution" in his homeland has forced him to find sanctuary in Tenerife.
The leader of the German anti-immigrant movement Pegida has himself become a refugee
Lutz Bachman, who once referred to migrants as "cattle" and "scum" is living with his wife and family on the Spanish island after experiencing the kind of hatred he once whipped up.
A video posted on the social media site Facebook has Bachmann claiming he and his wife were being “persecuted” and said there had been several attempts to break into his home.
Bachmann, who infamously sported a Hitler moustache once, was found guilty in Germany of inciting racial hatred with his comments about refugees.
Bachmann says he has been on Tenerife for the past few months following "employment opportunities”.
Co-founder of anti-Islam PEGIDA appears in court on charges of inciting hatred
Lutz Bachman was found guilty in Germany of inciting racial hatred with his comments about refugees
He did not say whether he intended to stay there for good.
"The 43-year-old Bachmann is the head of the Pegida movement, but the irony of him being able to escape visa-free to a colonial remnant of the continent where so many refugees come from has no doubt been lost on him," said one German news website.
Pegida emerged in 2014 as a street movement against immigration from Muslim countries
Pegida - the Patriotic Movement against the Islamisation of the Occident - emerged in 2014 as a street movement against immigration from Muslim countries.
Tatjana Festerling, once co-leader of the group who fell out with Bachmann, revealed his island exile.
Miss Festerling said that Bachmann returns to Germany every fortnight for “a show of resistance”.