BERLIN (Sputnik) — The written reply to Germany’s Left Party, seen by the public broadcaster ARD, pointed to ideological links that have existed between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Muslim extremists in the Middle East for at least five years.
"As a result of gradual Islamization of Ankara’s domestic and foreign policy, primarily since 2011, Turkey has turned into the central action platform for Islamist groupings in the Middle Eastern region," the reply read.
10 August 2016, 12:43 GMT
It pointed to "numerous expressions of solidarity and supportive actions for the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas and armed groups of Islamist opposition in Syria" on the part of Ankara, which "underscore their ideological affinity with Muslim brothers," according to ARD.
This reply stands in contrast to Germany’s official position which describes Turkey as an important NATO partner and a key ally in Europe despite repeated criticism of Ankara’s post-coup crackdown.
