Alan Posener, a regular commentator for the Berlin-based daily Die Welt, who says: “Yes, Germany has changed. And changed for the worse. Racism and Islamophobia have a voice in parliament. Turks respond with anger and alienation. Erdogan pours oil onto the flames. The voices of reason need to speak more loudly!”

 

 

Yasemin Ergin – a freelance journalist born here in Germany, but with Turkish roots. Ergin argues that: “In times of growing social and political divisions it was an important political signal that chancellor Merkel and other politicians commemorated the attack together with Turkey's foreign minister.“

 

 

Deger Akal, an DW-Expert on Turkish-German relations, formerly based in Ankara, now with DW here in Berlin. And Deger believes that: “25 years after the Solingen tragedy we are witnessing growing support for far-right in Germany. Xenophobic, racist, Islamophobic rhetoric is becoming mainstream, threatens peaceful coexistence and democratic values . As Chancellor Merkel said in Solingen, they are playing with fire!”