Europe

Turkey sees Europe as a haven for suspected terrorists

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan smiles, during a meeting with local media representatives, in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. Tensions between Turkey and Europe have boiled in recent weeks, but acrimony over Turkey's belief that some European countries are harboring suspected terrorists has festered for years. Erdogan criticized Germany Wednesday for allowing a weekend rally of Kurds, some of whom expressed support for a jailed rebel leader in Turkey.(Yasin Bulbul/Presidential Press Service, Pool Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures, during a meeting with local media representatives, in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. Tensions between Turkey and Europe have boiled in recent weeks, but acrimony over Turkey's belief that some European countries are harboring suspected terrorists has festered for years. Erdogan criticized Germany Wednesday for allowing a weekend rally of Kurds, some of whom expressed support for a jailed rebel leader in Turkey.(Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Press Service, Pool Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a meeting with local media representatives, in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. Tensions between Turkey and Europe have boiled in recent weeks, but acrimony over Turkey's belief that some European countries are harboring suspected terrorists has festered for years. Erdogan criticized Germany Wednesday for allowing a weekend rally of Kurds, some of whom expressed support for a jailed rebel leader in Turkey.(Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Press Service, Pool Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

Tensions between Turkey and Europe have boiled in recent weeks, but acrimony over Turkey's belief that some European countries are harboring suspected terrorists has festered for years.

Europe, in turn, questions whether fugitives wanted in Turkey would get a fair trial, and says free speech laws and other rights protect many dissidents.

A Turkish official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government protocol, said Wednesday that Turkey will ask the Netherlands to extradite a Turkish leftist militant.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Germany for allowing a weekend rally of Kurds, some of whom expressed support for a jailed rebel leader in Turkey. In January, Turkey condemned a Greek court ruling that granted asylum to eight Turkish military servicemen allegedly involved in a failed coup in Turkey last year.