Ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s upcoming visit to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, concerns are mounting regarding the potential for compromising human rights principles in the pursuit of strategic partnership. Deniz Yücel, spokesperson for PEN Berlin, has publicly urged Merz to address the deteriorating human rights situation within Turkey, highlighting a concerning pattern of repression.
Speaking to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Yücel expressed a desire for a robust condemnation by Merz, specifically citing restrictions on freedom of expression and the press. He noted the increasing number of journalists incarcerated or subjected to house arrest, alongside what he described as the “massive suppression of democratic opposition”. Yücel, himself having been detained in Turkey on charges of “terror propaganda” while working as a correspondent for “Welt” emphasized the delicate balancing act facing the German government.
“Merz faces the same challenge that his predecessors have already encountered: remaining a partner to Turkey without becoming an accomplice to the regime” Yücel stated. He acknowledged Erdoğan’s skilled maneuvering, leveraging crises like the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East to elevate Turkey’s position as a key geopolitical player. However, he criticized a tendency within successive German governments – including the current one – to prioritize security considerations when assessing the relationship, neglecting other critical aspects.
This assessment is echoed by Christian Mihr, Deputy Secretary General of Amnesty International Germany, who also spoke to the RND. Amnesty International is appealing to Chancellor Merz to unequivocally criticize the ongoing Turkish government attacks on independent civil society. Mihr stressed that any intensification of relations with Turkey, as currently being pursued by the German government, “must not come at the expense of human rights principles”. He warned against overlooking the impact of this increasingly radical, religiously influenced regime and its potential ramifications for the Turkish diaspora within Germany. The conversation underscores the tension between strategic interests and the upholding of fundamental human rights in Germany’s relationship with Turkey.