A far-right protest “against the Islamization of Europe” and a rally against racism will take place this Saturday simultaneously in two districts of Lisbon, and the tense situation is worrying the authorities.
Group 1143, whose representative is far-right activist Mario Machado, will hold a protest at 18:00 between Largo Luis de Camões and Plaza Municipio after applying for a demonstration in the Mouraria area, which was refused.
However, after intending to stage a demonstration considered xenophobic, a group of immigrant associations and anti-racist movements have planned a popular festival in Largo do Intendente, near Muraria, for 4pm to promote multiculturalism and diversity in Portugal.
The far-right movement asked for a demonstration in the Muraria area, starting from Largo do Intendente, but Lisbon City Council rejected the request following a PSP report warning of a security threat.
Group 1143 filed a claim for the “protection of rights, freedoms and guarantees”, considering that the ban on the demonstration by the Lisbon Chamber (CML), which on January 26 announced that it would not authorize it, would be a violation of the right to freedom of expression.
On Friday, the Lisbon District Administrative Court rejected the request and the group announced it would concentrate on Largo Camões.
The PSP has already said it is “planning a police operation that can be adapted to different possible scenarios” in connection with Saturday’s demonstration in Lisbon, which is being promoted by the far right.
The PSP also states that it “continues to gather information and monitor developments regarding the initiative planned for February 3, particularly through open sources” in order to “assess the potential risks associated with this initiative and plan a police operation that best suits the needs “
On Wednesday, the chamber unanimously decided to reaffirm the city’s commitment to “tolerance, equality, interculturality, the fight against racism and xenophobia”, welcoming the unauthorized demonstration “Against the Islamization of Europe”.
At a public meeting, the councilors of Cidadaãos Por Lisboa (elected by the PS/Livre coalition) proposed a welcoming vote entitled “Lisbon, a city without walls or battlements”, which was signed by the Bloco de Esquerda (BE) and Livre.