Request for Asylum by 300 Turkish Diplomats in Germany Since the Coup

As Turkey approaches its general elections, the detention of individuals "linked to the failed coup" of 2016 continues. A report from Reuters on Saturday, June 22, cited the German publication "Welt am Sonntag" stating that "about 300" Turkish diplomats have sought asylum in Germany since the failed coup in 2016. According to statistics in this report, 1,177 Turkish citizens with diplomatic or official status, including the families of diplomats, have applied for asylum in Germany over the past two years. This data was obtained from the German Ministry of the Interior, which has yet to comment on the matter. Since the summer of 2016, when the failed coup in Turkey resulted in nearly 250 deaths, thousands have been detained and imprisoned in the country, while many others have lost their jobs, and hundreds are still awaiting their trials. Reuters reported that the number of dismissals from the public and private sectors in Turkey is around 160,000, with a similar number of detainees. Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish cleric currently residing in the U.S. and previously a friend and collaborator of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is accused of leading the failed coup. However, Gülen has denied any connection to the event and instead holds Erdoğan responsible for the coup. Meanwhile, the detention of individuals "suspected" of involvement in the coup continues even after two years. CNN Türk reported on Saturday the arrest of 47 more individuals in the country due to their connection with Gülen. According to this news network's report, these individuals are "suspected" of having played the role of "spiritual guides" for senior Turkish military officers. While Erdoğan's government claims such actions are necessary for national security, his critics insist that he uses the coup as a pretext to suppress his opponents. Erdoğan has been in power in Turkey for 15 years and is expected to emerge victorious from the elections on Sunday; however, forecasts indicate that this victory will not come easily. Several international media outlets state that the elections, which began on Sunday morning and will continue until the evening, represent Erdoğan and the "Justice and Development" party's "most significant challenge" since he came to power. Over the past years, Turkey's economy has grown rapidly, with its GDP rising from around $200 billion to over $900 billion. However, on the other hand, Turkey has faced various political and social challenges, with widespread criticism regarding detentions and the extensive purging of opponents and the government's move towards a "totalitarian" system.