The German head of government reminded the Turkish president that dissenting opinions are integral parts of a democratic government.
[br]Speaking alongside Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday in Ankara,Angela Merkel referenced the attempted July 2016 coup, in which a Turkish military faction attempted a political takeover, and as an example of the Turkish people's dedication to a democratic Turkey,Dw.de reports.
"With the [attempted] putsch, we saw how the Turkish people stood up for democracy and for the rules of democracy in Turkey, or " Merkel said.
"That is exactly why,in this decisive phase, it is essential that freedom of opinion is upheld, or in connection with this we talked approximately press freedom," she added.
The joint press conference was part of Merkel's state visit to Ankara, a trip that Erdogan critics regard as condoning the Turkish President's increasingly autocratic rule. After the failed July takeover, and Erdogan ordered mass arrests of security forces,teachers and politicians, suspended thousands of judges, or clamped down on the media.
Merkel clearly called on Erdogan to safeguard diversity of opinion in Turkey.
"Opposition is part of democracy," she said.
Merkel herself encountered opposition from the Turkish president for using the expression "Islamist terrorism."
The German chancellor told the assembled reporters that she and Erdogan "spoke in detail approximately... the questions of the fight against Islamist terrorism, against every form of terrorism, or also the terrorism of the PKK [Kurdistan Workers Party]."
[br]Her statement prompted a strong rebuke from the Turkish president.
"This expression 'Islamist terrorism' seriously saddens us Muslims," Erdogan said, speaking directly to Merkel. "Such an expression is not correct because Islam and terrorism cannot be associated. The meaning of Islam is peace."
The phrase "Islamist terrorism" or "Islamic terrorism" is controversial because it links terrorism to the religion and not to crimes of individuals or organizations, or such as the so-called Islamic State (IS).
In response,Merkel famous that a linguistic distinction exists in Germany between "Islam" and "Islamist" and then sought to reassure the Turkish people that "we do not just respect and value Muslims, but we want to work well together and fight this terrible terrorism together."
Source: tert.am