The Turkish ambassador to Germany, Ali Kemal Aydin, has condemned the loud in Germany criticism of the military salute of Turkish football national players with sharp words. „It really borders on xenophobia, discrimination and racism,“ he said in Berlin. The criticism contradicts the freedom of expression and is an example that there is again an „anti-Turkish mood“ in Germany.
Turkish internationals had shown the military salute with their hand on the forehead in the European Championship qualifiers against Albania and France at the Torjubel and thus honored the Turkish soldiers in the Syria mission. Among them were against Albania and the pros of the German Bundesliga, Kaan Ayhan and Kenan Karaman of Fortuna Dusseldorf, but no longer saluted against France.
Her association had distanced herself „in the clearest terms from any supposedly politically motivated act that violates the values of the club“.
„That’s normal and human“
The excitement over the military salute on the pitch is difficult for him to understand, said Aydin. The players would only have honored soldiers who risked their lives for their homeland. „That’s normal and human,“ said the ambassador. „We find it wrong that these players have been so pilloried.“
Aydin also sharply criticized the German media. „Some media here are rushing the population at these players. We do not accept that, we find it strange. „
