Chancellor Angela Merkel has roundly rejected the comparison with Nazi practices made by the Turkish President as "completely inappropriate" and unjustifiable. It is particularly distressing that this trivialises the indescribable suffering of genuine victims of National Socialism, she said.
2 min reading time
Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s comparison with Nazi practices, which she described as "completely inappropriate" and unjustifiable. Statements like this are not really worthy of comment, said Angela Merkel on Monday in Berlin. What is particularly distressing, she said, is that comments like this trivialise the indescribable suffering of genuine victims of National Socialism. For this reason alone, they rob themselves of all legitimacy.
Last weekend the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticised the debate surrounding the cancelled campaign appearances of Turkish politicians in Germany, with the words "I thought National Socialism was a thing of the past in Germany, but it is still there".
The German government attaches a great deal of importance to maintaining good relations with Turkey, said government spokesperson Steffen Seibert at the government press conference. A wide spectrum of connections link Germany and Turkey. "Over the last few days we have seen radical differences of opinion between Germany and Turkey," said the government spokesperson. In recent months, he reported, the German government has repeatedly voiced its serious concerns in the face of restrictions imposed on freedom of expression and freedom of the press in Turkey.
"We have criticised court cases against a large number of journalists," said Steffen Seibert. The fate of the German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yücel is typical of the restrictions imposed on the freedom of opinion and freedom of the press. "We demand fair treatment for him in line with the rule of law." The German government considers it unreasonable and disproportionate that Deniz Yücel has been remanded in custody. "We expect Deniz Yücel to be released as soon as possible," declared the government spokesperson.
"In spite of all these serious differences of opinion, we must address our differences as partners," Steffen Seibert continued. "In all clarity, and – on our side – on the basis of our values: freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly."
These values apply to all citizens in Germany – also to citizens in Germany with Turkish roots, stated Steffen Seibert. That is why the position of the German government on any campaign appearances by Turkish ministers in Germany is clear. "Appearances by members of the Turkish government in Germany are possible – in compliance with German law and with the pertinent legal provisions that must be respected." Appearances of this sort must, however, be announced openly, giving enough notice.
Addressing the Turkish government, Steffen Seibert said, "Let us speak openly with one another, and where necessary let us speak critically with one another. But let us not lose sight of the special importance of the close German-Turkish partnership and relations. And let us keep a cool head!"