Citizens' Movement Pax Europa
A German anti-Islam and counter-jihad political advocacy organization formed in 2008 through the merger of two earlier citizen groups.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Citizens' Movement Pax Europa, commonly known by its German name Bürgerbewegung Pax Europa and the abbreviation BPE, is a German political advocacy organization associated with anti-Islam and counter-jihad activism. It describes itself as a human-rights organization committed to freedom, democracy, and opposition to what it calls the Islamisation of Europe. Its critics and external observers generally characterize it as an anti-Islam organization rather than as a conventional human-rights group. The organization was established in 2008 through the merger of two predecessor associations. The Federal Association of Citizens' Movements, known in German as Bundesverband der Bürgerbewegungen or BDB, had been founded in 2003. Pax Europa was established separately in 2006. Their merger created a broader platform for activists concerned with immigration, Islam, Muslim political influence, and the relationship between religious norms and European constitutional systems. BPE's public work has included political lobbying, public information stands, conferences, speeches, and cooperation with organizations in the wider European and North American counter-jihad network. The group has presented its arguments in international forums, including activities connected with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. It has also worked with the International Civil Liberties Alliance and the Center for Security Policy, an organization associated with Frank Gaffney. These links placed BPE within a transnational network that frames opposition to Islamism, Muslim immigration, and alleged restrictions on criticism of Islam as questions of civil liberties and national security. The movement's representatives have included Conny Axel Meier, identified as its national secretary, and René Stadtkewitz, who has served as a deputy chairman. Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff has represented the organization in OSCE-related lobbying. In 2011, Meier spoke at a Strasbourg conference organized by Stop Islamization of America and Stop Islamisation of Europe. He also addressed a 2012 counter-jihad conference in Brussels. These appearances illustrated BPE's connections with other anti-Islam campaigners, but also generated controversy because of rhetoric that critics considered inflammatory or historically inappropriate. A particularly controversial aspect of BPE's public presentation has been its attempt to associate itself with the legacy of the White Rose resistance movement against National Socialism. Susanne Hirzel, a former member of the White Rose circle, was involved with BPE. At the 2012 Brussels conference, Meier compared German Muslims with members of the Nazi Party while discussing a study concerning support for Sharia among German Muslims. The comparison was criticized as an effort to portray Muslims collectively as an internal political threat and to appropriate the symbolism of anti-Nazi resistance. The organization has remained visible through street-level campaigning and information events. On 31 May 2024, one of its information stands in Mannheim's market square featured activist Michael Stürzenberger. During the event, an Afghan refugee attacked several people with a knife. A police officer was critically wounded and died two days later after being placed in an induced coma; police officers at the scene shot the attacker. The incident brought renewed public attention to BPE and to the security environment surrounding its public events, although the attack itself was not an organizational scandal or a corporate misconduct finding. BPE is not a listed company, consumer product label, or commercial brand. Its public identity functions as the name of a political and ideological movement. Its principal offerings are therefore campaigns, advocacy, speeches, public events, and political messaging rather than physical products or paid services. The available reference material does not establish a precise headquarters, membership total, budget, current chairperson, or detailed organizational structure.
History
Citizens' Movement Pax Europa emerged from the consolidation of two German civic organizations with overlapping concerns about immigration, Islam, and European political identity. The Federal Association of Citizens' Movements was founded in 2003, while Pax Europa was formed in 2006. In 2008 the two groups merged, creating the organization now known as Bürgerbewegung Pax Europa, or BPE. BPE presents its work as a defense of freedom, democracy, and human rights against what it terms the Islamisation of Europe. Its activities have included public campaigning, information stands, conference appearances, speeches, and lobbying. The group has also sought an international audience. It has participated in lobbying connected with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, with Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff cited as one of its representatives. It has cooperated with the International Civil Liberties Alliance and with the Center for Security Policy associated with Frank Gaffney. The organization became part of the broader transnational counter-jihad milieu through its relationships and conference appearances. In 2011, national secretary Conny Axel Meier spoke at a Strasbourg event organized by Stop Islamization of America and Stop Islamisation of Europe. The gathering also included Robert Spencer and Roberta Moore of the English Defence League's Jewish Division. Meier later appeared at an international counter-jihad conference in Brussels in 2012. BPE's rhetoric and historical references have attracted criticism. The organization has sought to connect itself with the anti-Nazi White Rose resistance movement, and Susanne Hirzel, a former participant in that resistance circle, was involved with BPE. During the 2012 Brussels conference, Meier compared German Muslims to members of the Nazi Party while citing a study about Muslim support for Sharia over German law. Critics viewed the comparison as collective stigmatization of Muslims and as an inappropriate use of the White Rose's legacy. The group has continued to use public events to disseminate its views. On 31 May 2024, a BPE information stand in Mannheim's market square, featuring prominent activist Michael Stürzenberger, became the site of a knife attack by an Afghan refugee. Several people were stabbed. Police shot the attacker, while one police officer suffered critical injuries and died two days later after being kept in an induced coma. The event increased attention on BPE's campaigning and on the security risks associated with contentious political demonstrations. The available material does not provide reliable information about BPE's current leadership beyond the named officeholders, its membership, finances, or administrative headquarters.
- 2024
Mannheim information-stand attack
[1]A knife attack occurred at a BPE information stand in Mannheim. A police officer later died from injuries sustained during the incident.
- 2012
Brussels counter-jihad conference speech
[1]Meier spoke at an international counter-jihad conference in Brussels, where his remarks about German Muslims and the Nazi Party became controversial.
- 2011
Strasbourg counter-jihad conference appearance
[1]Conny Axel Meier represented BPE at a Strasbourg conference organized by Stop Islamization of America and Stop Islamisation of Europe.
- 2008
Merger creates Citizens' Movement Pax Europa
[1]The Federal Association of Citizens' Movements and Pax Europa merged to form the present organization.
- 2006
Pax Europa established
[1]The second predecessor organization, Pax Europa, was formed.
- 2003
Federal Association of Citizens' Movements founded
[1]The Federal Association of Citizens' Movements, one of the two predecessor organizations of BPE, was established in Germany.
Products and positioning
BPE positions itself as a pro-freedom, pro-democracy and human-rights movement opposing Islamisation and defending the primacy of European constitutional law. External observers commonly place it within Germany's anti-Islam and counter-jihad movement.
Controversies
2012
Controversial comparison of German Muslims with Nazi Party members
At a Brussels counter-jihad conference, Conny Axel Meier compared German Muslims with members of the Nazi Party while discussing a study concerning support for Sharia over German law. The remarks were criticized as inflammatory and as an inappropriate appropriation of the White Rose resistance legacy associated with BPE.
Marketing campaigns
- 2012Brussels counter-jihad conference
Belgium · Europe
Meier represented the organization at an international counter-jihad conference in Brussels.
Outcome. The event increased the organization's visibility but also drew criticism over Meier's comparison of German Muslims with Nazi Party members.
- 2011Strasbourg conference participation
France · Europe
National secretary Conny Axel Meier spoke at a Strasbourg conference organized by Stop Islamization of America and Stop Islamisation of Europe.
Outcome. The appearance connected BPE with international anti-Islam campaigners and reinforced its role within the counter-jihad network.
- Anti-Islamisation advocacy
Germany · Europe
BPE's central advocacy theme is opposition to what it calls the Islamisation of Europe. The campaign combines public messaging about immigration and Muslim political influence with claims that European constitutional law and civil liberties require protection from Islamic law or Islamist movements.
Outcome. The campaign established BPE as a recognizable participant in Germany's anti-Islam and counter-jihad scene, while also making the organization controversial among critics who regard its messaging as anti-Muslim.
- OSCE-related lobbying
Europe
The organization has lobbied in connection with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, with Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff cited as a representative.
Outcome. The activity gave BPE an international policy and civil-liberties platform, although the available material does not document a specific policy result.
Brand decisions
2008
Merger of predecessor organizationsM&ABackground
The Federal Association of Citizens' Movements and Pax Europa were separate German advocacy groups formed in 2003 and 2006 respectively.
Action taken
The organizations combined to create Citizens' Movement Pax Europa.
Aftermath
The merger provided a single organizational platform for BPE's anti-Islam and counter-jihad advocacy.
Recent events
- 2024
Knife attack at BPE information stand in Mannheim[1]
Other
A knife attack took place on 31 May 2024 at a Citizens' Movement Pax Europa information stand in Mannheim's market square. Activist Michael Stürzenberger was among those present. A police officer was critically injured and died two days later; police shot the attacker at the scene.
Sources2 sources
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