Turkish government issues entry bans for 162 German citizens

The Turkish government has issued entry bans for a total of 162 German citizens from January 2017 to August 23, 2018, according to a report by pro-Kurdish Fırat news agency (ANF) on Wednesday.

According to the report, Germany’s Foreign Ministry responded to the written inquiry submitted by the far right Alternative for Germany (AfD) regarding the entry ban Turkish government issued for German citizens. The ministry announced that Turkey has issued entry bans for a total of 162 German citizens from January 2017 to August 23, 2018.

The German Foreign Ministry did not make any explanation why the entry bans were issued. AfD MP Anton Friesen, who submitted the inquiry, said that “Turkey’s ban against our citizens is unacceptable.”

Friesen demanded that the Merkel government pressure the Ankara administration so German citizens can freely enter and exit Turkey. According to data from the German Foreign Ministry, there are currently 50 German citizens in Turkish prisons. Seven of these are political prisoners while the rest are imprisoned for other violations.

Meanwhile, all eyes are on German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas’ 2-day visit to Turkey. “Germany wants to improve relations with Turkey and enhance cooperation on issues of common interest,” Maas said ahead of his talks in Ankara.

“Germany has a strategic interest in reshaping our relations with Turkey in a constructive way. Turkey is not only a big neighbor of us but also an important partner of Germany,” he said in a statement.

Maas is scheduled to meet his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and other senior officials on Wednesday in the capital Ankara.

Over the past two years, political relations between Ankara and Berlin have suffered setbacks, but in recent months both sides have taken steps towards improving ties.

Germany’s top diplomat said, during his talks in Ankara, he would also raise the issue of several German citizens, who were arrested in Turkey as part of counter-terrorism investigations. On Wednesday, Maas is also expected to be received by President Erdogan and Parliament Speaker Binali Yıldırım. Maas’ two-day trip to Turkey comes ahead of Erdogan’s key visit to Berlin on Sept. 28-29.

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from Stockholm Center for Freedom https://stockholmcf.org/turkish-government-issues-entry-bans-for-162-german-citizens/