Germany takes sides with France in row over Islamist extremism

Hani Daniel

Germany has expressed solidarity with France in ongoing debates on religious extremism, something French authorities often warned against.

The Germany position aims to rein in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who has been lashing out at Europe and accusing it of intolerance to Muslims.

Berlin said it stands in solidarity with Paris against extremism and empty slogans that sow seeds of tension between peoples.

Erdogan tries to use the remarks made by French President Emmanuel Macron following the murder of a school teacher at the hand of a Chechen radical on Oct. 16 to settle old scores with Macron.

Macron led a campaign inside the European Union to impose sanctions on Ankara against the background of its violations in the East Mediterranean and transfer of mercenaries to Libya.

A German newspaper threw light recently on attempts by Erdogan to sway Muslims around the Middle East against France.

Erdogan does this, it said, in order to gloss over his illegal exploration of gas in the East Mediterranean and violation of the United Nations ban against the transfer of arms to Libya.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed concern over Turkish statements against Europe, in general, and France, in particular.

She said these statements have nothing to do with reality.

Erdogan had previously criticized German police for searching a mosque financed by some Turkish agencies.

He made links between this event and the remarks made by the French president following the murder of the French school teacher.

A spokesperson of the German chancellor said Erdogan’s comments were unacceptable.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass said the comments of the Turkish president drive a new wedge between Europe and Turkey.

He said his country stands in solidarity with France against Islamist extremism.