UPDATES WITH INTERIOR MINISTRY’S STATEMENT, EDITS THROUGHOUT
By Ayhan Simsek
BERLIN (AA) - A top Turkish ruling party official was banned on Friday from addressing Turkish expat community in the northern German state of Lower Saxony, in a move that is likely to further increase tensions between Germany and Turkey.
The Interior Ministry of Lower Saxony announced in a press release that it banned Mehdi Eker, deputy chair of the Justice and Development (AK) Party, from carrying out any political activity in the state, during his stay there.
Eker was on a two-day visit to Hannover, to meet with representatives of Germany's 3 million-strong Turkish expat community, half of whom are eligible to vote in Turkey’s upcoming referendum in April on constitutional reforms.
Lower Saxony’s Interior Ministry said local authorities were not fully and timely informed by the Turkish side about Eker’s planned political meetings in the state other than Hannover, and the ministry decided to impose a ban on all of his political activities.
Two German police officials intervened during Eker's meeting with a small group of Turkish expats at a restaurant in Hannover, and notified him about the official notice of the ministry, which warned that disobeying the decision would constitute a criminal offense.
Eker sharply criticized the controversial ban and told reporters this move undermined European values and democratic rights.
“Is Germany not a democratic country? Are people not free here to express their opinion?” he asked.
“If people are being denied from an opportunity to learn about what they are going to vote for, you cannot claim this a democratic country,” he said.
A day before Eker’s visit, local authorities in Hannover had already revoked permission for his planned rally at a hall in the city, citing security concerns and danger to social harmony.
So far this month, German authorities have blocked nearly two dozen planned rallies in various cities by Turkish government ministers or politicians who favor constitutional change for a transition to a presidential system in Turkey.
Earlier this week, Germany’s small western state of Saarland announced that it has decided to prohibit all planned political rallies by Turkish politicians, becoming the first state to opt for a blanket ban.
The moves have drawn Ankara’s ire, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan comparing them to Nazi-era practices.
Several Turkish ministers have accused German authorities of carrying out a covert and systematic campaign to obstruct their rallies, and favoring the No campaign in referendum.
Nearly 1.4 million Turkish expats live in Germany, who are eligible to vote in the referendum and will cast their ballots at nine consulates and four other polling stations between March 27 and April 9.