The lights went out on iconic German landmarks last night as growing 'anti-Islamisation' rallies pulled in the highest numbers yet around the country.
Monuments including a major Catholic cathedral were plunged into darkness, in a sign of protest against the rapidly growing group Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West (PEGIDA) which is opposed to Muslim immigration.
Cologne Cathedral turned its lights off in a gesture of defiance against the protesters, along with Berlin's Brandenburg Gate and monuments in Dresden, which has been the heart of the rising movement.
The famous cathedral went dark to protest against the far-right rallies
A record 18,000 people reportedly marched in Dresden in support of PEGIDA, many brandishing Christian crosses in the colour of the German flag.
But the Catholic cathedral in Cologne was among the monuments switching off their lights in a move to show nearby protesters it does not support their beliefs.
PEGIDA says it wants to protect Germany's Judeo-Christian heritage against what it sees as the creeping influence of Islam in Europe.
The weekly rallies in Dresden have shaken the German political system, and have been met with even larger counter protests as people take to the streets in solidarity with the wave of recent Middle Eastern refugees - many of whom are from war-hit Syria.
Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel has called for people to reject the growing protests which she called "racist". She said: "Speaking in the eastern town of Neustrelitz on Monday, she said: "We need to ... say that right-wing extremism, hostility towards foreigners and anti-Semitism should not be allowed any place in our society."
Anti-Islamic protesters demonstrate in Germany
(01 of25)
Lights to illuminate Cologne's landmark the Cologne Cathedral (C) are switched off in protest against a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Cologne, western Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / DPA / OLIVER BERG +++ GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read OLIVER BERG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:OLIVER BERG via Getty Images)
(02 of25)
A demonstrator holds a crucifix (C) in the colors of Germany during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement called Pegida on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images)
(03 of25)
A demonstrator holds a crucifix (C) in the colors of Germany during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement called Pegida on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images)
(04 of25)
A demonstrator holds a crucifix (C) in the colors of Germany as other people wave with German national flags during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement called Pegida on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images)
(05 of25)
Demonstrators wave with German national flags during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement called Pegida on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images)
(06 of25)
Demonstrators wave with German and Russian national flags during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement called Pegida on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images)
(07 of25)
Poeple look at demonstrators waving with German and Russian national flags during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement called Pegida on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images)
(08 of25)
A demonstrator holds a crucifix (C) in the colors of Germany during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement called Pegida on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images)
(09 of25)
Anti-Pegida demonstrators sweep the place where a rally was held by the mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images)
(10 of25)
Anti-Pegida demonstrators sweep the place where a rally was held by the mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images)
(11 of25)
An anti-Pegida-protester wearing a Guy-Fawkes-mask is arrested by the police during a rally by the mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
(12 of25)
An anti-Pegida-protester is arrested by the police during a rally by the mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
(13 of25)
People take part in a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
(14 of25)
Lars Seidensticker (L) of the anti-Islam party 'Burgerbewegung pro Deutschland' (Citizens movement pro Germany) holds a sticker showing a crossed out mosque as he takes part in a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
(15 of25)
People use umbrellas to give the finger to supporters of a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
(16 of25)
A man holds a poster reading 'An Islamic, democratic state somewhere in the World? The German constitutional law is not negotiable!!' and displaying an old title of the German news magazine 'Der Spiegel' from the year 2007 reading 'Mecca Germany - The Silent Islamization' as he takes part in a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
(17 of25)
Lars Seidensticker of the anti-Islam party 'Burgerbewegung pro Deutschland' (Citizens movement pro Germany) holds a sticker showing a crossed out mosque as he takes part in a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
(18 of25)
People hold a banner reading 'Against religious fanaticism' as they take part in a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images)
(19 of25)
Demonstrators hold up a poster reading 'KoegidD - Koeln (Cologne) against idiotic Germans' in protest against a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Cologne, western Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / DPA / MAJA HITIJ +++ GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read MAJA HITIJ/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:MAJA HITIJ via Getty Images)
(20 of25)
Demonstrators wave flags of Germany and Russia during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images)
(21 of25)
A demonstrator holds a crucifix in the colors of Germany during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MLCHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images)
(22 of25)
A man holds up a poster reading '!No! islamization of Europe!' as he takes part in a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
(23 of25)
A demonstrator holds a German flag during a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Dresden, eastern Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MLCHAEL (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ROBERT MICHAEL via Getty Images)
(24 of25)
People take part in a protest against a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Cologne, western Germany. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / DPA / OLIVER BERG +++ GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read OLIVER BERG/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:OLIVER BERG via Getty Images)
(25 of25)
German Justice Minister Heiko Maas (C) takes part in a demonstration to protest against a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group 'Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident', or PEGIDA, whose weekly anti-immigrant street protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)