Turkish Foreign Ministry condemns Schulz’s remarks on Erdoğan rally in Germany

ANKARA

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry on June 29 condemned remarks by Martin Schulz, the leader of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD), over a potential rally by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who will visit the country as a part of the G-20 summit in Hamburg next week.

Speaking to German daily Bild on June 28, Schulz had called for a ban on a major event by the Turkish president in the country.

“Foreign politicians who trample on our values at home must not be allowed a stage for speeches in Germany. I don’t want Erdoğan, who jails opposition politicians and journalists in Turkey, to hold large-scale events in Germany,” he said.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hüseyin Müftüoğlu on June 29 called the comments “unacceptable” and said Ankara condemned Schulz, the former head of the European Parliament.

“The approach on restricting the right to assembly and freedom of expression, especially from someone person who served as the head of the European Parliament, once more reveals the true face of the mentality we face and the double standards of those who are trying to give a lesson to others,” Müftüoğlu said.

“We strongly condemn and reject the unacceptable remarks of this person against our president,” he added.