A total of 217 Turkish citizens with a diplomatic passport and 220 people, including soldiers, with a service passport have applied for political asylum in Germany after the July 15 coup attempt, which was carried out by the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), the German Interior Ministry deputy spokesperson Lisa Haeger said Friday.
Speaking at a press conference in Berlin, Haeger said that the number of putschist asylum seekers was based on Federal Office for Migration and Refugees data from May 17.
Haeger also underlined that family members were included in the 437 applications, adding that German authorities gave approval in only a few cases.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Martin Schaefer, who was also attending the press conference, stressed that Turkey was an important NATO ally despite some differences in the interpretation of shared values.
"There is no doubt that Turkey is a crucial partner for us within the NATO alliance. Europe's security is also under threat at its southeastern wing," Schaefer said, adding that the threats posed by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, especially the Syrian Civil War, may have not been recognized enough by European communities.
German-Turkish relations have been strained over the past months, after German local authorities canceled public appearances of Turkish ministers and government officials campaigning ahead of the April 16 referendum in several German towns and cities, based on poor excuses such as the inadequacy of parking lots and security concerns, while allowing pro-PKK events and Turkish opposition officials to rally for the "No" campaign.
In response to Germany's attitude towards Turkish deputies during the recent constitutional referendum period, a German parliamentary delegation was not allowed to visit the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey's southern Adana province, where German troops are stationed.
In addition, Germany's uncooperative stance with regard to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) has also been a source of tension as the country has been a safe haven for hundreds of FETÖ members, including high ranking NATO military officers.