Erdogan: Merkel Has Resorting to Nazi Tactics

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Angela Merkel on Sunday, stating that the German Chancellor is fueling tensions between Germany and Turkey by resorting to "Nazi tactics." According to AFP, Erdogan, speaking among his supporters for a "yes" vote on constitutional changes, said: "When we call them (Europeans) Nazis, they don't like it; they express solidarity with each other, especially Merkel." The Turkish President emphasized: "But you (Merkel) have just now resorted to Nazi tactics." He added: "Against whom? Against Turkish brothers and citizens in Germany and my minister's brothers." Erdogan stated that such actions by Europe "indicate a new season of hostility against our country." Tensions have escalated recently between Turkey and Germany as German officials, like those in the Netherlands, did not allow Turkish ministers to participate in constitutional change campaigns. A positive vote in the constitutional referendum will grant extensive powers to the Turkish President. This referendum is set to take place on April 15 in Turkey. On Saturday, thousands of Kurds from Turkey participated in a gathering in Frankfurt, with many holding flags of the PKK and its leader Abdullah Ocalan. In protest of this gathering, Turkey summoned the German ambassador and deemed the event a "scandal" for Germany. Reports indicate that nearly 30,000 people participated in the Frankfurt rally, where demonstrators also called for a "no" vote on the Turkish constitutional referendum. On Sunday, Ibrahim Kalin, the Turkish Presidential Spokesman, told CNN Turk that the German ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and that the gathering was condemned in the strongest terms. The spokesman accused German officials of hypocrisy, stating that while Turkish ministers are not allowed to participate in campaigns in Germany, Kurds were permitted to gather in Frankfurt.