UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS FROM MINISTER, CORRECTS DATELINE
IZMIR, Turkey (AA) - Turkey’s EU minister Friday blasted Germany for preventing the Turkish justice minister from addressing the expatriate community, calling on the country to be consistent with democratic values.
Speaking to reporters in the Aegean province of Izmir, Omer Celik said, “The countries that are heard loudest when it comes to democratic values must be consistent with these democratic values. The right of assembly and demonstration is a democratic right.
“Prevention of one of our democratic rights to meet with our citizens, which are guaranteed by the principles of the Council of Europe and the European Union, means blocking a democratic right."
On Thursday, the municipality of Gaggenau in southwest Germany revoked its permission for Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag's rally ahead of the April 16 referendum in Turkey, citing concerns about overcrowding. This prompted Bozdag to cancel his planned visit to Germany.
The referendum will ask for an up or down vote on changes such as giving Turkey’s president wide-ranging executive powers and abolishing the post of prime minister.
Turkish citizens in Germany can cast their ballots from March 27 to April 9.
Celik also criticized Germany over discriminating between terrorist groups.
“Whenever there is a Daesh attack in Turkey, Turkish flags are flown on buildings in Germany,” Celik said, “but if it’s a PKK attack, they don’t do it.”
Celik said Germany is “putting up walls” but that these walls can’t harm Turkey.
"This wall will hurt them, hurt their own democracy. They need to face that," he said.
Blasting Germany’s move as “interference in Turkey’s internal affairs,” Celik said Turkey’s “doors would be open” for Germany.
"We opened our doors to all refugees, but Europe failed this test. If Germany wants to hold an event for German citizens in Turkey, our doors are open for them [to do so]. We will encourage them here as this is their democratic right," he added.
The cancellation by the Gaggenau municipality has drawn strong criticism from the Turkish government.
After the incident, Turkey's Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador, Martin Erdmann.
The event was organized by the Union of European Turkish Democrats, or UETD.
Germany is home to the largest Turkish expat community in the EU, numbering around 3 million.