Turkish justice minister slams Germany over rally ban

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

MALATYA, Turkey

Turkey's justice minister hit out at Germany on Friday, saying it "has become a haven" to members of the PKK, DHKP-C, and FETO terrorist groups.

Bekir Bozdag, speaking in Turkey's eastern province of Malatya, criticized German authorities for revoking permission for a rally in the southern German town of Gaggenau where he was set to address the Turkish community.

"Turkey's judicial system is more independent than the one in Germany," Bozdag said, adding that although the Berlin Wall fell a long time ago, "We can see that the wall remains in people’s minds."

The justice minister charged that anyone who commits a crime against Turkey finds safe haven in Germany.

"This is a decision that violates diplomatic manners," he said.

The denial of permission, though citing overcrowding concerns, came after German opposition parties and several media organizations called on the government not to allow Turkish politicians to address rallies ahead of a referendum in Turkey on constitutional changes.

Bozdag was to address Turkish citizens on the proposed changes, which go to a referendum on April 16.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry has summoned the German ambassador, Martin Erdmann, over the cancellation, according to a ministry source, and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also criticized the move.

Among Germany’s 3 million-strong Turkish community, nearly 1.5 million of them are eligible to vote. They can cast their ballots from March 27 to April 9.

Terrorist groups and proposed changes

Since it resumed its armed campaign in July 2015, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of approximately 1,200 security personnel and civilians, including women and children.

Turkey holds the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) responsible for last July’s defeated coup that martyred at least 248 people and wounded around 2,200 others, as well as a concerted campaign to infiltrate and undermine the Turkish state and society.

The proposed constitutional changes facing referendum would hand wide-ranging executive powers to Turkey’s president, and the post of prime minister would be abolished. The president would also be allowed to retain ties to a political party.

Other changes would see the minimum age for parliamentary candidates lowered to 18 and the number of deputies to 600. Under the new constitution, simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections for five-year terms would be held in November 2019.