Turkish opposition MP slams German police for customs questioning

ISTANBUL

Mahmut Tanal, an Istanbul MP from Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has slammed the German customs police for questioning him rigorously and asking him how much money he had despite carrying a diplomatic passport.

Tanal’s flight landed in Munich on Aug. 5 before the quarrel at the customs police check.

“Although I have a diplomatic passport, the police asked me why I came, where and for how long I will stay, and whether I have hotel reservation,” he told daily Habertürk on Aug. 6.

“When he asked me whether I had a return ticket, I told them that German MPs are not asked such questions when they arrive in Turkey,” Tanal added. “The last straw was when he asked how much money I had in my pocket. I said: ‘Enough, are you going to ask me for a loan?’”

Tanal was eventually allowed to enter Germany.