Germany blames municipality for allowing pro-PKK rally

BERLIN (AA) - Germany’s federal government has sought to shift the blame to local authorities, after Turkey sharply criticized Berlin for banning political rallies of ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, but allowing campaign events of Turkish opposition parties.

Speaking at a news conference in the capital Berlin on Monday, Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Maria Adebahr recalled that the federal government decided last year not to allow foreign politicians to hold political rallies in Germany, within three months of elections in their respective countries, and underlined that this rule was still in place.

Asked about Saturday’s rally in Cologne, which was organized by the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and backed by PKK terror group’s supporters, Adebahr argued that permitting or prohibiting specific events does not fall under the jurisdiction of federal government.

“Granting permission to specific gatherings or events fall under the jurisdiction of local municipalities and authorities,” she claimed.

Around 1.4 million Turkish immigrants living in Germany are eligible to vote in Turkey’s parliamentary and presidential elections on June 24.

While German government gave the green light for setting up polling stations at Turkish consulates next month, it did not give permission for ruling AK Party leaders to organize campaign events across the country.

- Erdogan slams Germany

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly criticized German authorities on Monday for blocking his party’s campaign events, but permitting activities of the PKK terrorist group.

“They are not allowing our friends to attend meetings in Germany even for state duties, but they allow PKK,” Erdogan said during a rally in western Manisa province.

They [Germany] are lying to us. They allow terrorists to stage rallies under police protection,” he said.

The HDP, which Turkish government accuses of being a political front for terrorist organization PKK, is planning to hold another major campaign event in Berlin next Sunday.

The PKK has been banned in Germany since 1993, but it remains active, with nearly 14,000 followers among the Kurdish immigrant population in the country.

Turkey has long criticized German authorities for not taking serious measures against the terrorist group which uses the country as a platform for their propaganda, fund-raising and recruitment activities.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU. The group waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years and has been responsible for the death of nearly 40,000 people.