The leader of Germany’s Social Democrats, Martin Shultz, has had harsh words for the Turkish president ahead of the G20<br />summit, and now Germany’s foreign minister has said he wants none of the Turkish bodyguards involved in the fracas in <br />Washington in May on German soil.<br /><br />“Our country is an open country. But we have no intention of bringing other countries’ domestic political conflicts into our population. <br />For us the Turks are part of our society. People living here, with German citizenship or not, are for us citizens of our country,” said <br />Sigmar Gabriel. <br /><br />Turkey’s ambassador, speaking on behalf of the foreign ministry, was quick to react, describing both mens’ comments as “regrettable”.<br />President Erdogan has been trying to find a venue for a mass rally in Germany on the margins of the G20 summit, but none in the <br />Hamburg region have said they are available.<br /><br />Huseyin Muftuoglu added any moves “towards imposing restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression” would reveal “the double <br />standard of those who aim to lecture … others”.<br /><br />There are also fears of protests and possible violence similar to the scenes in Washington, when Erdogan’s bodguards attacked <br />peaceful demonstrators. Eight of them have been named and are wanted for questioning in the USA.<br />
