Before visiting another country it’s usually advisable to check out your embassy’s travel advice page for a touch of guidance on terror threats, tropical diseases or impending military coups.
Germans visiting Turkey will now find another worry on their list of dangers.
Both Germany and Switzerland now warn tourists against criticising the Turkish government in the travel advice section of their foreign ministry's websites. The German page suggests not to make statements against the Turkish state, while the Swiss information stresses that insulting or slandering President Erdogan can result in punishments.
The detail was pointed out by journalist Inga Rogg, who covers Turkey, Iraq and Syria for Swiss newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung.
Travel warnings: #Germany warns its citizens about criticizing #Turkey's govt in public. (de) https://t.co/2aoMlJ2L9l
— Inga Rogg (@ingarogg) 18 April 2016
That means it’s highly advised not to make statements against the Turkish state in public, or to express sympathy with terrorist organisations. After a series of terror attacks recently security has been on central importance in Turkey, so the second point could be of more important here.
The Swiss Embassy provides a more detailed breakdown of what speech is and isn’t allowed in Turkey.
Und das sagt das #Schweiz-er Aussenamt zu Reisen in die #Türkei: https://t.co/vdNd8rPEKw pic.twitter.com/apJtxMWbFn
— Inga Rogg (@ingarogg) 18 April 2016
While it’s unclear how new the warning is, it was noted at a rocky point for freedom of speech between Turkey and Germany. Last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said prosecutors could pursue charges against German comedian Jan Boehmermann, after he penned and performed a crude poem that insulted Turkish President Erdogan.
Turkish officials had pressured the German government to prosecute Boehmermann under an archaic law that bans insulting foreign heads of state. The fiasco has stoked fears that, in their need to maintain friendly ties with the increasingly repressive Turkish state, European countries might be increasingly willing to curb freedom of speech within their own borders.
Some commentators expressed shock or discomfort with the warning:
The European Union will always stand up for the values of free speech, human rights, and not pissing off convenient authoritarian allies.
— Karl Sharro (@KarlreMarks) 18 April 2016
Others thought it fair that the German government give its citizens a heads-up that freedom of expression in Turkey had certain limitations:
@KarlreMarks my gov confirms that freedom of speech in Turkey is limited and warns me about it. What is the problem ? #Hysteria @ingarogg
— Anna Di Mario (@AnnaDi_Mario) 18 April 2016
It was also worth pointing out that Germany’s warning might even apply to its own sovereign territory, if Boehmermann’s case is anything to go by.
Does it apply in Germany, too? https://t.co/E2qLXTtk9O
— Piero Castellano (@PieroCastellano) 18 April 2016
