Turkey summons German diplomat over Erdogan speech ban

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey summoned Germany's charge d'affaires in Ankara to the foreign ministry on Monday over a court decision that prevented Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from addressing a rally in Cologne.

According to Turkish diplomatic sources, Robert Dolger, is expected to come to the Turkish foreign ministry at 2:00 p.m. local time.

German Ambassador Martin Erdmann is currently not in Ankara.

Germany's highest court late Saturday upheld a ruling that banned Erdogan from addressing a rally via video call to protest the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey.

The decision by the Federal Constitutional Court came after Cologne police prevented rally organizers from inviting the president to give a speech to thousands of supporters who attended Sunday's rally in Deutzer Werft.

Police said the measure was for "security reasons,” which was agreed by a local court.