Germany witnessed demonstrations by pro-AKP-MHP groups after Erdogan won the presidential elections in May. In the wake of the demonstrations, where violent incidents were reported, Left Party Deputy Clara Bünger brought up the issue in the Federal Parliament (Bundestag). Bünger submitted a parliamentary question to the Federal Government led by Olaf Scholz, asking whether the government would put a ban on Turkish fascist groups that threaten the Kurds, the minorities and opponents of the Erdogan regime in Germany, as in France.

A threat to the safety of life

In a reply to Bünger's parliamentary question on June 7, the Ministry of Interior claimed that there was no threat to the safety of life of the Kurds and Turkish opposition groups living in Germany. The ministry argued that the security units did not tolerate extremism in any way. It noted that those involved in such crimes would be punished within the framework of legal norms, adding that although some isolated incidents occurred, the government is not planning to impose a ban.

Bünger: What else needs to happen?

Left Party Deputy Bünger reacted to the statement of the Ministry of Interior and said it was unacceptable that the government was not planning to impose a ban on pro-Erdogan ultra-nationalist groups, despite their involvement in violence. She criticized the fact that the government did not take a decision to protect the Kurds and other opposition groups in order not to anger Erdogan. Bünger said: “What else needs to happen for the ultranationalist 'Grey Wolves' to be banned? The Grey Wolves are still the biggest far-right group in Germany and are as dangerous as the Neo-Nazis.”

Bünger pointed out that the German government criminalized the Kurdish Freedom Movement instead of banning Turkish nationalist groups that threaten the Kurds, the Armenians and other left/opposition groups and put their lives in danger. She stressed that her party did not accept this. Bünger recalled that only in May, three Kurdish activists received long-term prison sentences and Kurdish politician Kenan Ayaz was deported from Cyprus to be tried in German courts. She said: “By bringing Ayaz to Germany, the German government proved once again that it served Erdogan's interests.”

Intelligence: A threat to internal security

Meanwhile, contrary to the Ministry of Interior's statement, Turkish fascist groups pose a "threat to internal security," according to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. In a report on Turkish racist and nationalist groups released in January, the domestic intelligence agency repeated that Turkish ultra-nationalists posed a danger to the Kurds, the Armenians, the Greeks, the Jews and the Alevis in Germany.

The ministry doesn't comply with the parliament's decision

Following the attacks of Turkish fascist groups on Armenians in Dijons, France, on October 29, 2020, the French government decided to ban these groups. A draft law prepared by the governing parties and the opposition in Germany was approved in the Bundestag to ban the Grey Wolves group on November 18, 2020. However, although nearly 2.5 years have passed since the introduction of the draft law, there has been no attempt by the Ministry of Interior to prevent or ban the activities of these groups or to break the influence of Turkish racism in Germany.