The German Interior Ministry has announced that half of the asylum applications received from Turkish nationals in October and November were approved, compared to 40 percent in September, according to a Deutsche Welle Turkish service report on Friday.
The majority of the applicants were followers of the Gülen movement, which is accused by the Turkish government of orchestrating a 2016 coup attempt, although it strongly denies any involvement.
The government launched a crackdown targeting members of the movement after the abortive putsch, which led to an exodus of thousands of Turkish nationals to European countries.
The German ministry’s statement came in response to a parliamentary question posed by Left Party deputy chair Sevim Dağdelen.
“Turkey is not a safe country. The situation is getting worse for Turkish citizens who think differently [from the government],” said Dağdelen. “It is unconscionable that the federal government has approved arms sales and provided financial aid to the Turkish government.”
According to the Federal Office of Immigration and Refugees (BAMF), between 2013 and 2015 an average of 1,800 asylum applications were received annually. In 2016 the number increased to 5,742, in 2017, 8,483, and in the first 11 months of 2018 it rose to 10,075.