Did FM Çavuşoğlu Violate Election Law in Germany?

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Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu called on the people from the balcony of the residence of Consulate General of Turkey in Uhlenhorst district of Hamburg in Germany yesterday (March 7) evening.

Claiming that while those who wanted to vote in favor of the constitutional amendment draft in the referendum to be held on April 16 and were being hindered, others who would vote against the draft were being supported, Çavuşoğlu criticized that politicians from Turkey were being prevented from propagandizing in Germany.

Election Law: "No election propaganda abroad and in representatives in foreign countries"

Çavuşoğlu calling on the people from the Consulate General of Turkey in Hamburg ahead of the referendum has brought the election law in Turkey to the agenda.

According to Article 10 of the election law in Turkey published in the Official Gazette on March 22, 2008, propagandizing outside of the state of Turkey and in the representatives in foreign countries is not allowed.

Prohibition of election propaganda by Supreme Election Board

The Supreme Election Board (YSK) in its resolution No. 109 on February 15, 2017 also prohibits election propaganda abroad and in customs stations.

Çavuşoğlu: "Don't teach us democracy"

Çavuşoğlu in his speech from the balcony of the consulate said:

" [with regards to the hall in which Çavuşoğlu would hold a speech, being closed], The hall, in which the event for the referendum would be held, was closed due to lack of security in case of fire.

"They have closed a hall which had been in service for 20 years, only now. This is a systematic ban, the systematic opposition of Germany against Turkey. These hindrances cannot oppress us.

"Stop teaching us human rights and democracy". (EKN/DG