Pegida (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West, or Patriotische Europäer gegen die Islamisierung des Abendlandes) is a German far-right, anti-Islam political movement founded in 2014 in Dresden. It organizes weekly protest marches that have attracted thousands of participants who voice opposition to immigration, multiculturalism, and what they perceive as the Islamization of Europe and threats to German identity. The movement's rhetoric criticizes Islam, refugees, and government integration policies, positioning itself as a defender of Western values. Pegida has been widely condemned for promoting xenophobia, Islamophobia, and right-wing extremism, with its demonstrations often featuring inflammatory slogans and symbols associated with far-right ideologies. The organization expanded beyond Germany, inspiring offshoots in countries like the UK, Denmark, and Australia, though the German branch remains the most active and influential. Pegida's leadership, including founder Lutz Bachmann, has faced legal scrutiny and convictions for offenses such as incitement and using Nazi slogans. German intelligence agencies have classified Pegida as a right-wing extremist group, monitoring it for potential threats to democracy. Despite declining attendance in recent years, Pegida continues to influence broader populist and anti-immigration sentiments in Europe, intersecting with other far-right networks and parties like the Alternative for Germany (AfD). Controversies include allegations of ties to neo-Nazi elements, hate speech, attempts to infiltrate mainstream politics, orchestrating protests that escalated into violence, spreading conspiracy theories about 'Islamization,' and facing legal actions including bans on demonstrations in some cities.