Erdogan's supporters protest against failed Turkey coup attempt in Germany
Thousands rallied in Cologne on Sunday to denounce the failed 15 July coup in Turkey and show support for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
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Turkish protesters demonstrate in Cologne, Germany on Sunday. Thousands of supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gathered for a demonstration against the failed 15 July coup in Turkey. AP
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The rally came amid tensions among Turks following the coup attempt and concern in Germany over the scale of the Turkish government’s subsequent crackdown on those it says are linked to U.S.-based cleric it blames for the coup attempt. The cleric, Fethullah Gulen, has denied the claims. AP
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A heavy police presence protected demonstrators. Police estimated that between 30,000 to 40,000 people demonstrated peacefully at the riverside rally, across the Rhine from downtown Cologne. Many waved Turkish flags. Germany is home to roughly three million people with Turkish roots. AP
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A picture of Turkish president Erdogan is framed by national flags during the demonstration in Cologne. Organisers at the rally played the Turkish and German national anthems and held a minute of silence for the people killed in the attempted coup. The slogan of the demonstration was “Yes to democracy. No to the coup.” AP
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Turkish people hold a picture of president Erdogan. Some demonstrators came from outside Germany, such as French-Turkish protester Aziz Sahin, who said he came from Paris “just to support democracy.” AP
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A regional court imposed the condition that no messages from speakers elsewhere — such as politicians in Turkey — could be shown on a video screen at the rally. Germany’s highest court rejected a complaint against that ban on Saturday night. Erdogan’s spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, said ruling prevented the president from giving a message to the rally, and called for a “satisfactory explanation” from German officials. Later Sunday, organizers read a message from Erdogan thanking people with Turkish roots in Germany for their moral support during the coup attempt, the German news agency dpa reported. He said “today Turkey is stronger than it ever was before 15 July.” AP
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Police put 2,700 officers in place to prevent any trouble. Four much smaller counter-protests took place elsewhere in the city, including one by a far-right German group that was kept well away from the Turkish rally. On the other side of River Rhine the Cologne cathedral is visible. AP
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