Angela Merkel
Angela MerkelFlash 90

Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, continued to reject claims against her immigration policy during a speech in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern ahead of regional elections.

In the speech, Merkel claimed that there is no connection between refugees and the recent increases in terrorism within Germany and Europe in general.

"The phenomenon of the Islamic terrorism of ISIS is not a phenomenon that has come to us through the refugees, but one we already had," she asserted.

She bolstered her claim by noting the numerous instances of German citizens who traveled to Syria in order to join ISIS. Last June, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, estimated that 800 German citizens have joined the ranks of ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

Merkel said that all refugees ready to follow the laws of Germany are welcome in the country. "We have stated clearly that an Islam that works and lives according to the German constitution has a place here. An Islam that doesn't go according to the German constitution or doesn't grant equal rights to women, doesn't have a place here."

A poll publicized last week showed a further drop in support for Merkel. 52% of respondents showed opposition to her immigration policy, which has allowed over a million Muslim immigrants into the country in the past year.