Warning from Germany to its citizens: Your freedom of expression could lead to criminal sanctions in Turkey

A social media warning has come from Germany for its citizens who will travel to Turkey. Among the warnings were the statements, "Statements that are within the scope of freedom of expression under German law may lead to professional and criminal sanctions in Turkey" and "Stay away from political events and rallies."

According to the report in Sözcü, the warning text on the German Federal Foreign Office's website stated, "The arbitrary arrest of German citizens, their subjection to exit bans, or the prevention of their entry into Turkey are still situations that are encountered.

Individuals who have previously entered and exited the country without any problems may be arrested when they return due to past accusations or a new offense," the text said.

WARNING THAT IT COULD BE A 'REASON FOR PROSECUTION'

In the text, which states that a social media 'like' could lead to prosecution, the following statements were included:

"Due to the broad definition of terrorism in Turkey, which is contrary to the rule of law according to the European Court of Human Rights, simple statements, social media posts, comments, or even 'likes' that fall under the scope of freedom of expression in Germany can lead to prosecution. Under a new 'disinformation law,' the dissemination of statements deemed by law enforcement to be untrue and a threat to the country's security, public order, or public health can also be a reason for prosecution."

"STATEMENTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION UNDER GERMAN LAW..."

The text continued with the following statements:

"Arrests, prosecutions, or exit bans have been observed due to social media posts criticizing the government, especially on charges of insulting the president. This situation can have serious consequences for people living in Germany. In particular, but not limited to, German citizens with private and personal ties to Turkey and individuals with dual Turkish-German citizenship are affected by these situations.

There have also been cases where journalists were not granted accreditation without justification. Statements that are within the scope of freedom of expression under German law may lead to professional and criminal sanctions in Turkey.

"MAY BE PERCEIVED AS ANTI-GOVERNMENT IN TURKEY"

It is recommended that you stay away from political events, rallies, and large crowds in general. Views expressed and actions taken in Germany, such as signing petitions related to Kurdish issues, may be perceived as anti-government in Turkey and may therefore result in criminal consequences. The same applies to statements on social media criticizing the government; even sharing or liking foreign content can lead to this situation. Even private comments can be forwarded to Turkish law enforcement through anonymous tips.

Please keep in mind that consular assistance from Germany's relevant foreign missions may not be sufficient to protect you from serious criminal prosecution. Please take into account the information under the headings of Internal Political Situation and Legal Particulars. Also, regarding entry barriers, consider the information provided on entry control and refusal of entry."

"WE HAVE NOT ISSUED A NEW WARNING"

Official sources stated that reports claiming Germany has issued a new travel warning for Turkey do not reflect the truth.

Sources speaking to T24 reported that on August 7, German authorities made a technical update to the existing text within the framework of the Dual Citizenship Law, which was recently enacted in Germany.