By Tugrul Cam
ANKARA
government has severely criticized Germany over the cancellation of a public address by the justice minister to expat Turks in Gaggenau on Thursday.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday accused what he described as the German “deep state” of being behind the obstruction of a planned address by Ankara’s justice minister to members of the local Turkish community.
Cavusoglu said the German authorities had tried to prevent such meetings before: "This has become a systematic practice of the German deep state."
"The systematic pressures on Turkish society [in Germany] do not discourage Turkish society. You can't achieve this," he added.
Cavusoglu said Berlin’s attitude towards Turkey revealed double standards shown by Germany and the West.
He went on to say that Germany should consider Turkey an equal partner but it had to act like an equal partner: "Turkey is not a country at your [Germany's] disposal.”
Turkey was not a “second-class” country, Cavusoglu added.
"If you want to work with us you have to learn how to behave towards us," he said.
Cavusoglu also called on Germany to work together with Ankara for the good of Turkey’s large community there.
Turkish justice minister has slammed German authorities for revoking permission for the rally.
Speaking in Turkey's eastern province of Malatya, Bekir Bozdag said Germany "has become a haven" to members of the PKK, DHKP-C, and FETO terrorist groups.
On Thursday, the municipality of Gaggenau in southwest Germany revoked its permission for Bozdag's meeting, citing concerns about overcrowding. This prompted the minister to cancel his planned visit to Germany.
The incident has drawn strong criticism from the Turkish government.
Turkey’s EU minister, too, blasted Germany.
"The countries that the most heard 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 our citizens, which are guaranteed by the principles of the Council of Europe and the European Union, means prevention of a democratic right," Omer Celik said.
Celik portrayed the maneuver as “building walls” and added that these walls could not damage Turkey.
Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli said the incident was "upsetting".
"This is an insincere approach and attitude. Such a ban is not compatible with any law, universal value or democratic understanding," he told reporters in the southeastern province of Gaziantep.
"This wall will hurt them, hurt their own democracy. They need to face that," he said.
Development Minister Lutfi Elvan described the move as "ugly" and "shameful", adding it "neither complies with freedom of speech nor democratic rights and freedoms".
“It made us even more upset as this incident happened in the heart of Europe and in one of the most important countries of the European Union,” Elvan told reporters during an official visit in Turkey’s central Aksaray province.
Turkey's opposition parties have also slammed German authorities over justice minister was prevented from addressing to Turks in Gaggenau.
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) said Germany's decision was not right.
After the Turkey's Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador, Martin Erdmann, over the cancellation.
The event in Gaggenau had been organized by the Union of European Turkish or UETD.
Germany is home to the largest Turkish expat community in the EU, numbering around three million people.
