Erdogan on serious charges against Merkel: Protecting terrorists

Speaking at a conference in the Black Sea province of Rize, Erdogan said Turkey had given Chancellor Merkel 4,500 terrorist files but had not received answers to any of them.

German is helping terrorists. We gave Chancellor Merkel 4,500 files, but we didn't get any answers for any of them. But when a terrorist is arrested here, they tell us to hand him over. You don't bring the terrorists you have to us, but you ask for yours. So you have justice, we in Turkey not”, said Recep Tayip Erdogan.

Relations between Germany and Turkey have deteriorated in recent months, after Merkel questioned Turkey's commitment to democracy and rule of law, while Erdogan said Germany's Nazi past may not have been completely thrown behind its back.

Berlin, so far, has refused to extradite soldiers and civilians, whom Ankara accuses as participants in last year's failed coup. A month ago Turkey arrested a group of activists, including a German citizen, in a missile that was strongly condemned by civil society, broadcasts tch.

After the failed coup of the state, Erdogan has strengthened his powers, while hitting thousands of people he considers supporters of the cleric in the asylum, Fethullah Gulen, whom he accuses as architect of trying to oust him from power.