Protests begin ahead of Erdogan state visit to Germany next week
He is expected to be greeted with military honours by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Groups in Germany have already begun protesting the planned visit.
Kurds held a demonstration in Dusseldorf on Saturday with signs like ‘You are not welcome in Germany, murderer Erdogan’ and ‘Stop Afrin Genocide.’
The German Federation of Journalists plans to stage a protest in front of Berlin’s central train station on September 28, when Erdogan is scheduled to arrive in the city, Deutsche Welle (DW) reported.
Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders will join the demonstration condemning Turkey’s crackdown on the media.
German-Turkish relations are severely strained over Turkey’s arrests of German nationals and German criticism of Turkey’s crackdown on civil society after the failed coup. In 2017, Erdogan accused Germany of ‘Nazism’ when they barred him for speaking at rallies in the country ahead of Turkey’s referendum on the presidency.
Deputy chair of Erdogan’s party, AKP, Cevdet Yilmaz, said the trip is a chance to work through issues that have damaged relations between the two nations and improve Turkey’s image within the European Union.
“I believe that this visit will help overcome the negative perception that has recently been attempted to be imposed on Turkey in Germany. I believe that our president will give some positive messages to German people,” he told Anadolu Agency.
He believes that in the global climate of sanctions and trade wars, Turkey and Europe can forge a common agenda.
Berat Albayrak, Turkey’s Finance Minister and son-in-law of Erdogan, was in Berlin on Friday to discuss boosting economic ties with his German counterpart and laying the groundwork for next week’s state visit.
Erdogan last visited Germany in February 2014.