Turkey summons German envoy after minister speech axed

Turkey has summoned the German ambassador to Ankara to protest against the cancellation of a talk by the Turkish justice minister in Germany, according to foreign ministry sources.

Turkish justice minister Bekir Bozdag had been due to address expatriates in Gaggenau in support of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's controversial reforms but local authorities withdrew permission for the rally, saying the planned venue was not big enough.

Bozdag had said he had called off a meeting with his counterpart in Germany and was returning home after his address was cancelled.

"It is unacceptable that German authorities, who constantly lecture us about human rights, democracy, rule of law, free speech... do not tolerate a meeting organised by the Turkish community," the Turkish minister said.

The talk in Gaggenau was reportedly intended to promote a "yes" vote for constitutional changes in an upcoming referendum that would expand President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's powers.

However, Gaggenau officials said they had cancelled permission for the rally due to space considerations.

"Because the event is now known across the region, the city expects a large number of visitors," local authorities said in a statement.

"The Bad Rotenfels hall [in Gaggenau] parking lots and access road are insufficient to meet that demand."

Shaky bilateral ties between the countries have been further strained amid growing public criticism in Germany of Turkey's arrest of a Turkish-German journalist.

Deniz Yucel, a correspondent for Die Welt, was detained last week, accused of producing terrorist propaganda and undermining the Turkish government.

Many Turkish writers and journalists have been arrested in a widespread crackdown that followed a failed coup against Erdogan in July 2016.