The violent clashes in Stuttgart following the re-election of Turkish President Erdogan have reignited the debate on integration. During the motorcade on Sunday evening, according to the police, there were various clashes. Vehicles were pelted with bottles and stones. A motorist was injured by a knife stabbing, as were two young men who were allegedly among the attackers. In the meantime, one of them was in mortal danger.
A total of 13 criminal complaints were recorded, including one attempted homicide. According to the police, they are investigating in all directions and are asking witnesses to come forward. There were also motorcades in other cities in Baden-Württemberg and throughout Germany, and there were occasional riots there as well.
A number of politicians of Turkish origin were disappointed by Erdogan's re-election and criticized the motorcades. "They benefit from civil liberties and the rule of law, and at the same time they support an anti-constitutional course," said the president of the Baden-Württemberg state parliament, Muhterem Aras (Greens), the Stuttgarter Nachrichten. "This also raises the question of integration." Aras was born in Turkey.
Previously, Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir (also Greens) had sharply criticized the motorcades on Twitter. These are "not celebrations of harmless supporters of a somewhat authoritarian politician". It is a "rejection of pluralistic democracy" and a "testimony to our failure".
Özdemir asked whether they were prepared "for ultra-nationalism and fundamentalism to be spread even more strongly in this country by new imams from Ankara?" Özdemir comes from Bad Urach near Reutlingen, his parents had immigrated from Turkey.
CDU migration expert Serap Güler called the images of the motorcades "extremely disturbing". There are "many German-Turks whom Erdogan reaches better than we do. That has to change," said the member of the Bundestag of the "Bild" newspaper (Monday). The result of the election shows the division of Turkish society. But: "Erdogan won the election, and we have to see how we can work with him. Turning away cannot be a solution for us," Güler pointed out.