Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Joachim Gauck and other German leaders made an appearance at a Berlin rally organized by Muslim groups Tuesday, in contrast with the growing tide of anti-Islamic sentiment in the country.
The event was a vigil for the victims of last week's terror attacks in Paris held by the Central Council of Muslims in Germany at Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate, according to BBC News. Also in attendance were a host of German politicians, Christian leaders and representatives of Germany's Central Jewish Council.
The organizers reportedly called the event: "We Muslims say: Let's stand by each other. Terrorism, not in our name."
During the vigil, Muslim officials recited verses from the Quran, including passages that condemn violence, and various religious leaders and political figures addressed the crowd of several hundred, The Guardian reported. A moment of silence was held for those who lost their lives in the tragedy in Paris.
“We stand together for a Germany that is open to the world, with a big heart, which honors freedom of opinion, of the press and of religion,” Aiman Mazyek, head of the Central Council of Muslims, told the crowd.
The rally comes a day after an anti-Islam march drew a record number of protesters in Dresden on Monday. The demonstration was part of a growing far-right movement in Germany called Pegida that opposes the so-called "Islamization of Europe." Some carried posters showing Merkel wearing a headscarf.
Several separate demonstrations against Pegida drew thousands in Dresden and other German cities on the same day, according to USA Today. Protesters waved signs that read "Refugees welcome" and "Never again, Germany."
Still, the Pegida movement has been gaining traction since last fall as thousands of refugees have flooded into Germany from war-torn Syria seeking asylum. Public support for the movement was further bolstered by last week's violence in France.
Merkel drew fire from the group before the march on Monday when the conservative chancellor said in a speech that "Islam belongs to Germany."
"Hatred, racism and extremism have no place in this country," she said in the speech. "We are a country based on democracy, tolerance and openness to the world."
Speaking at Tuesday's event, Gauck echoed Merkel's call for cultural and religious tolerance in the country, according to BBC News.
"Germany has become more diverse through immigration -- religiously, culturally and mentally. This diversity has made our country successful, interesting and likeable."
Angela Merkel joins Muslim community rally in Berlin to promote tolerance http://t.co/mCYjCsxZ4f pic.twitter.com/n9b6IPft1h— Catrin Nye (@CatrinNye) January 13, 2015
Some pictures from this evenings tolerance rally in #Berlin Chancellor #Merkel in attendance, but she didn't speak. pic.twitter.com/fLJUXdpTaB— Peter Oliver (@PeterGOliver_RT) January 13, 2015