German officials, who found nothing wrong in allowing the senior leader of a group they recognize as terrorist to address a rally in Cologne in 2011, decided that President Erdoğan, whose call to resist July 15 putschists drew millions, cannot address a democracy rally in the same city
Tens of thousands of Turks living in Germany gathered in Cologne on Sunday in solidarity with their compatriots back at home, condemning the July 15 coup attempt by the Gülenist Terror Organization (FETÖ). Germany's highest court had earlier decided to prevent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan from addressing the rally. However, on Sept. 3, 2011, German authorities had allowed senior PKK commander Murat Karayılan to address a crowd at a culture festival. Germany, along with the rest of the EU and U.S., recognizes the PKK as a terrorist group. Germany also remains as one of the prime destinations for FETÖ and PKK members fleeing from Turkish justice. The decision from the Federal Constitutional Court ruled on an action by Cologne police to prevent rally organizers from inviting the president to address thousands of supporters via video link at Sunday's rally, an action planned in protest of the coup attempt on July 15 in Turkey by a military junta loyal to FETÖ. Despite banning President Erdoğan from addressing the rally, one of the PKK terrorist organization's leaders, Karayılan, had addressed PKK supporters in Germany via a video-conference call in 2011. Presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın said that Germany's decision to block the video conference was unacceptable.In his statement, Kalın said: "It's unacceptable that authorities who remained silent to demonstrations of terrorist organizations are trying to block a democratic, anti-coup demonstration. Security precautions should not be taken against those who organize a democracy meeting, but against supporters of terrorism and anti-democratic provocateurs."
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu harshly criticized the decision through his official Twitter account, writing: "Concerned by news from Europe against freedom of expression & assembly. Such a decision cannot have any explanation."
Speaking to Daily Sabah, Bülent Turan, group deputy chairman for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), harshly criticized Berlin's position on yesterday's democracy rally and the ban on Erdoğan. "Germany has shown its support for the putschists with this attitude," he contended, adding that the decision contradicts Germany's basic principles.
Calling the court's decision "scandalous," Kurtuluş Tayiz, a columnist for the Akşam daily, told Daily Sabah that the German state has announced its stance against the coup attempt with the ban decree. "Germany has become a safe haven for FETÖ and PKK terrorists," he added.
"In addition to keeping silent over the coup attempt in Turkey, they prevent President Erdoğan from attending a rally via a video-conference call," Turan said, asking whether it is against freedom of expression or not.
Police said the measure was for "security reasons." A local court agreed with the police decision.
Zafer Sırakaya of the UETD spoke on behalf of the rally organizers, and criticized the court ruling as politically motivated.
Turan also urged Germany to give a satisfying answer to the ban decision, adding that Berlin must do it if Turkish citizens are not to call it "a FETÖ supporter."
Sırakaya told Anadolu Agency, "This ruling has no legal acceptability. It is extremely clear that this is a political decision."
Tayiz asserted that Germany is trying to design Turkey's domestic politics and spoil its image in the international arena. "Germany has openly showed its feud against Erdoğan with this decision. It is a dire situation," he said.
According to police estimates, up to 30,000 people were expected to attend the rally issued by the Union of European-Turkish Democrats (UETD). Representatives from the political parties represented in the Turkish parliament are scheduled to speak, UETD General Secretary Bülent Bilgi told dpa.
Turkish news outlets, as well as online Turkish-language journal Deutsche Welle Türkçe asserted that a minister from the ruling Justice and Development party, Sports and Youth Minister Akif Çağatay Kılıç, would attend the rally.
Several smaller counter-demonstrations, including one by far-right activists, increased fears of clashes. Four counter-demonstrations, each attracting as many as 1,500 protesters, were scheduled to be held Sunday in Cologne.
Police said the measure was for "security reasons." A local court agreed with the decision, issuing the ruling that scrapped the plan.