Supporters of Germany’s anti-Islam movement Pegida disrupted the unveiling of an artwork by a German-Syrian artist on Tuesday in front of Dresden’s iconic Frauenkirche church.
Around 100 followers of Pegida, or Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West, shouted at mayor Dirk Hilbert as he unveiled the piece from Manaf Halbouni.
The artwork in question, called “Monument,” involves scrap buses stood up on their back ends and is intended to remind viewers of civilian suffering in Aleppo, where buses were used in this way to act as barricades protecting residents from sniper fire.
It’s part of a remembrance of the destruction of Dresden during the Second World War, the 72nd anniversary of which is next week.
The Pegida supporters shouted “shame, shame” and “the junk has to go” as Mayor Hilbert gave his speech.
The mayor was also called a “hypocrite” and other insults.
Hilbert had previously been the target of abuse on the internet and even received death threats.