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The Leader of Germany’s Anti-Islam Group Quits After His Hitler Photo Goes Viral

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The head of Germany’s anti-immigration movement PEGIDA stepped down Wednesday after a photo showing him dressed as Adolf Hitler emerged online.

Lutz Bachmann was pictured on his Facebook page sporting a toothbrush mustache and with his dark hair combed straight into a side parting to resemble the Nazi leader, the New York Times reports.

Bachmann, 41, is also quoted as referring to immigrants as “scumbags,” “stupid cows” and “trash” on social media.

Dresden police are investigating whether there are sufficient grounds to prosecute Bachmann. (Germany has strict laws governing Nazi symbolism and paraphernalia.)

On Wednesday, supporters of PEGIDA, which stands for Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West, gathered in Leipzig for an anti-immigration rally.

[NYT]

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Write to Helen Regan at helen.regan@timeasia.com