The German government has passed a proposal for a control mechanism in coordinating with the Turkish police who impose the extradition of several journalists and writers through Interpol. The most recent incident is the detention of a writer in Spain.

Reactions against Turkey accusing opposition politicians, journalists and writers of “terrorism” and abusing the Interpol are growing. The German Justice Ministry has announced that they will look into the matter after many German politicians and media organs spoke against the practice.

ADMISSION THAT THE INTERPOL IS USED ARBITRARILY AGAINST THE OPPOSITION

Social Democratic Party (SPD) member Minister of Justice Heiko Maas has admitted that the police cooperation with Turkey has been controversial. Maas spoke to the Funke Media Group and stated that the issue should at least be discussed within Europe and the response to Turkey’s demands should particularly be handled.

Maas said Europe is committed to the principles of the rule of law and added: “Acting within the principles of the rule of law, Europe can’t allow the arbitrary surveillance of anybody who opposes the Turkish regime.”

The ministers of interior for two large states in Germany, Niedersachsen and Nordrhein-Westfalen, had come to Maas with similar demands.

DEMAND FOR FREEZING OF FAMILY’S ASSETS

MP Roderich Kiesewetter from the larger coalition partner Christian Democratic Party (CDU) had voiced a demand for “freezing of the Erdoğan family’s assets abroad”.

Merkel’s CDU had demanded an increase in the sanctions to be imposed against the Erdoğan regime after the recent crises and Erdoğan insulting German politicians, and Kiesewetter had said: “For instance, we could freeze the Erdoğan family’s assets and bank accounts abroad. We have many options to do that.”