German minister tags Turkey as hub for Islamists | Merkel tells Germany’s Turkish community to show ‘loyalty’

German public broadcaster ARD leaked a confidential German Interior Ministry report in August 2016, which suggested that Turkey had become a hub for Islamist groups and that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had an 'ideological affinity' to Hamas in Gaza, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and groups of armed Islamist opposition in Syria.

In a response on the 17 August 2016 the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the report exhibited a 'warped mentality' and double standards in the fight against terrorism.

Adding to the rising tension in the relations between the two countries, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for the country's Turkish community to show loyalty, sparking controversy.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Why so many German Turks support Erdogan http://www.europeansources.info/record/why-so-many-german-turks-support-erdogan/

ESO: Background information: Merkel warns Erdogan his authoritarian drift endangers visa deal. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: No Turkey visa waiver, no refugee deal http://www.europeansources.info/record/merkel-warns-erdogan-his-authoritarian-drift-endangers-visa-deal-recep-tayyip-erdogan-no-turkey-visa-waiver-no-refugee-deal/

ESO: Background information: Merkel’s Austria Problem, Merkel’s Turkey Problem http://www.europeansources.info/record/merkels-austria-problem-merkels-turkey-problem/

ESO: Background information: Court grants Erdogan injunction against comedian Jan Böhmermann http://www.europeansources.info/record/court-grants-erdogan-injunction-against-comedian-jan-bohmermann/

Deutsche Welle, 18.08.16: German-Turkish ties hit by 'Islamization' leak http://dw.com/p/1Jk3h

The Local.de, 17.08.16: Berlin bids to calm storm over report on Turkey Islamist ties http://www.thelocal.de/20160817/berlin-bids-to-calm-storm-over-report-on-turkey-islamist-ties

Hürriyet Daily News, 17.08.16: Turkey asks for explanation from Germany over ‘Islamist platform’ claims http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-asks-for-explanation-from-germany-over-islamist-platform-claims.aspx?pageID=238&nID=102925&NewsCatID=351

Euro|Topics: Debates, August 2016: How serious are the allegations against Ankara? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/162736/how-serious-are-the-allegations-against-ankara

The Economist, 19.08.16: Germany, Turkey and Islam. Through the politics of Islam, Germans and Turks are deeply intertwined http://www.economist.com/blogs/erasmus/2016/08/germany-turkey-and-islam

Germany: Federal Government: Article, 17.08.16: German-Turkish relations. Specially close links https://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/EN/Artikel/2016/08_en/2016-08-17-tuerkei-deutschland-verhaeltnis_en.html

Politico, 25.08.16: Angela Merkel under fire for Turkey comments http://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-loyalty-turks-under-fire-criticized/

Euronews, 23.08.16: Merkel tells Germany's Turkish community to show 'loyalty' http://www.euronews.com/2016/08/23/merkel-tells-germany-s-turkish-community-to-show-loyalty

The Local.de, 23.08.16: Merkel calls for 'loyalty' from Turkish-Germans http://www.thelocal.de/20160823/merkel-calls-for-loyalty-from-turkish-germans

Deutsche Welle, 29.07.16: [Opinion] Opinion: Strip Erdogan of his power over Germany's Turks http://dw.com/p/1JYg1

Politico, 08.09.16: Germany and Turkey: not friends, but allies http://www.politico.eu/article/germany-and-turkey-not-friends-but-allies-migration-angela-merkel-recep-tayyip-erdogan/

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