Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has slammed Germany's three main political parties as "enemies of Turkey" ahead of parliamentary elections. The comments drew a swift rebuke from Chancellor Angela Merkel.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday told Turks living in Germany they should punish mainstream German parties in September's parliamentary elections.
"I am calling on all my countrymen in Germany to not make the mistake of supporting them," he said, singling out Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union, the Social Democrats and the Greens as "enemies of Turkey."
Instead he urged Turks to "support those political parties who are not enemies of Turkey," calling it a "struggle of honor."
Merkel sharply rebuked his remarks, rejecting Erdogan's "meddling" and pointing out that "German voters, including the ones with Turkish background, have a right to vote freely."
"We will not stand for any kind of interference," she said from a Friday campaign event in Herford, northwest Germany.
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel was also quick to condemn Erdogan's comments, telling the RedaktionsNetzwerk media group they amounted to an "unprecedented act of interference in the sovereignty of our country."
He accused the Turkish leader of seeking to incite people against each other, and urged voters to "show those who want to play us against each other that we will not participate in this evil game."
"I call on them not to vote for those parties who have been engaged in such aggressive, disrespectful attitudes against Turkey, and I invite them to teach a lesson to those political parties at the ballot box," Erdogan said.
CDU leader Angela Merkel is running for a fourth term as chancellor in federal elections on September 24. Around one-third of the 3 million Turks living in Germany are eligible to cast votes.
Turks mark coup anniversary with disparate view of justice, sacrifice
Amidst ongoing purges and a year long state of emergency, Turks observed the anniversary of the failed coup with contrasting views of justice and sacrifice. Diego Cupolo has sent these pictures from Ankara.
Image: DW/D. Cupolo
One year after the coup attempt
On Saturday, Turks observed the anniversary of last year’s failed coup, commemorating the nearly 250 people who lost their lives during the event and celebrating the perseverance of the nation. The largest crowds gathered at Istanbul’s Bosphorus Bridge and in central Ankara, pictured above, where demonstrators marched to Turkey’s parliament to attend a speech by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Image: DW/D. Cupolo
Disparate views in post-coup Turkey
Among the crowds, were many who personally confronted the military on the night of the coup and had made personal sacrifices to defend the democratically elected government. In contrast, opponents of President Erdogan mostly stayed home, viewing the ongoing purges and Turkey’s extended state of emergency as affronts to the nation’s democratic principles that have undermined the rule of law.
Image: DW/D. Cupolo
“Our Democracy Watch Continues”
A banner in Ankara reads “Our Democracy Watch Continues,” in reference to democracy watch rallies that took place nightly during the month following the coup attempt. One year on, some Erdogan supporters believe followers of Fethullah Gulen, who the government blames for organizing the putsch, are still working in state offices and may be plotting a second coup attempt.
Image: DW/D. Cupolo
Support for ongoing purges
Sahibe, 45, a store clerk not pictured above, spoke in favor of the ongoing purges, which have laid off more than 150,000 people over the last year and jailed about 50,000. She said innocent citizens had nothing to worry about and that she hopes “the state of emergency continues until we cleanse the roots Gulenists have made in our country.”
Image: DW/D. Cupolo
Extended state of emergency
Yet not all attendees at Saturday’s rallies supported the year-old state of emergency. “I am anxious about the current situation because it gives soldiers the authority to do anything they want,” said Ahmed, who did not give a surname. “If there was a referendum on extending the state of emergency, I think the majority of people would vote against it.”
Image: DW/D. Cupolo
“Stay strong, the people are with you”
A pro-government demonstrator holds a flag featuring Erdogan with the words: “Stay strong, the people are with you.” Reflecting on Erdogan’s leadership, a taxi driver near the rally said, “May god protect us if this man is re-elected in 2019. He’ll bring sharia law to Turkey, which is no problem for men, but it will make life miserable for women.”
Image: DW/D. Cupolo
“We have lost many rights “
Those who didn’t support the rallies kept their distance, such as Seyma Urper, a human rights lawyer working in the southeastern city of Sirnak. "Since the coup attempt, most employees in my municipality were dismissed and the mayor was replaced with a state-appointed trustee," Urper said. "We have lost many rights and it’s getting harder to do my job."
Image: DW/D. Cupolo
“Our country is stronger than ever”
Erol Kanmaz, not pictured above, said his son was shot in the leg on the night of the coup attempt and spent the subsequent six months in the hospital to undergo four surgeries. “I came out tonight to protect my homeland,” Kanmaz said. “Those Gulenist traitors tried to infiltrate our military, but now our country is stronger than ever.”
Image: DW/D. Cupolo
“Tell us to die, we will die”
Sureyya Kalayci (left) displays a homemade t-shirt stating: “A call is enough. Call us and we’ll come. Tell us to die, we will die.” On 15 July 2016, Kalayci and his son Ahmet (right), blocked military vehicles in Ankara’s streets, helping to foil the attempted coup. “If it wasn’t for the people, the military would’ve taken over our country,” Kalayci said.
Image: DW/Diego Cupolo
“We are the grandchildren of the Ottomans”
A demonstrator holds up a scarf reading: “We are the grandchildren of the Ottomans.” Many people in the crowds on Saturday night expressed support for President Erdogan’s policies and believed he was the only leader that could restore Turkey’s stance as an international power, which was tarnished with the fall of the Ottoman Empire 100 years ago.