General

Erdogan compares Germany rally ban to ‘Nazi practices’

March 3, 2017

Criticism of move to block rallies of Turkish officials comes day after claim Germany is ‘aiding and harbouring terror’.


Erdogan made the remarks at a “Yes” campaign in Istanbul [Murad Sezer/Reuters]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticised Germany for blocking several rallies there in advance of a referendum in Turkey on expanding his powers as head of state, comparing the decision to Nazi practices.

The remarks came on Sunday, a day after he accused Germany of “aiding and harbouring terror” for allowing outlawed Kurdish leaders to hold regular public meetings in the country.

“Your practices are not different from the Nazi practices of the past,” Erdogan said on Sunday in Istanbul at a campaign for the referendum.

“I thought it’s been a long time since Germany left [Nazi practices]. We are mistaken.”

Several German towns prevented appearances by Erdogan’s ministers last week, citing security and safety concerns.

Turkey summoned the German ambassador to the foreign ministry in Ankara to lodge a protest after local authorities in the southwestern German town of Gaggenau cancelled a talk by Bekir Bozdag, Turkey’s justice minister.

The talk was reportedly intended to promote a “yes” vote for constitutional changes in the upcoming referendum.

Authorities in Cologne also withdrew permission for rallies where Nihat Zeybekci, Turkey’s economy minister, was due to speak.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected Turkey’s accusations that her government had a hand in scrapping the rallies, saying the decisions were “taken by municipalities, and as a matter of principle, we apply freedom of expression in Germany”.

The cancellations have angered the Turkish government, which has accused Germany of working against the “Yes” campaign in the referendum.