German court permits pro-refugee party

HEIDENAU , Germany, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- A Dresden, Germany, court ruled Friday that a party welcoming refugees as a show of opposition to anti-immigrant politics could go ahead.

Earlier Friday, authorities in the town of Heidenau forced the party to be cancelled, claiming public safety could not be guaranteed because of a shortage of police. The ban on public gatherings in the town of 17,000 on the border with the Czech Republi, included any demonstrations by those who oppose the flow of refugees into Germany.

Anti-refugee protests erupted in Heidenau last weekend, injuring about 30 people. German Chancellor Angela Merkel toured the area of the protest Wednesday, condemning the violence.

The protests last week at a Heidenau refugee shelter, by neo-Nazi and other far-right groups, were described by Merkel as "shameful and appalling."

While Merkel has led the effort to accept refugees, largely escaping war and poverty from North Africa and the Middle East, she has been criticized for not taking a public stand against the negative reaction of some Germans to the influx, which is expected to reach 800,000 people in 2015. The figure is four times the number who emigrated to Germany in 2014, and by far the largest number among European countries.

Heidenau's rationale for canceling events has come under scrutiny. A conservative German newspaper noted riot police are readily available for soccer matches but not to keep order at a demonstration.