Germany on Monday vehemently protested Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan comparing a German ban on political rallies inside German territory by Turkish ministers to “Nazi practices.” , Peter Altmaier, chief of staff at the chancellery, told public broadcaster ARD the comparison was “absolutely unacceptable,” stressing that his government “will make this very clear” to the Turkish government, and noting: “There is absolutely no reason to allow ourselves to be reproached over this,” he added.
Last week, German authorities refused permits to two rallies by Turkish residents in Germany, most likely over the Turks’ arrest of a Turkish-German journalist, but German authorities claimed the rallies would attract unmanageably large crowds. Chancellor Angela Merkel said her government had nothing to do with the ban, which was imposed by local governments.
The rallies were part of a Turkish government campaign to win the support of Germany’s 1.5 million Turkish immigrant community for an April referendum on a increase in presidential power for Erdogan.
Turkey’s economy minister, Nihat Zeybekci, was scheduled to appear at both events on Sunday.
Speaking in Istanbul, President Erdogan slammed the German authorities, saying, “In Germany, they are not allowing our friends to speak. Let them do so. Do you think that by not allowing them to speak the votes in Germany will come out ‘no’ instead of ‘yes?'”
Erdogan then added, “Germany, you don’t have anything to do with democracy. These current practices of yours are no different than the Nazi practices of the past.”
