The decision of the Bundestag to recognize the Armenian genocide has infuriated Ankara – but also thousands of German-Turks. The psychologist Kazim Erdogan explained what was behind this observation to Spiegel.

Kazim Erdogan, born in 1953 in Gökçeharman in Turkey and came to Germany to study in 1974 before becoming a psychologist famous for its advisory groups for German-Turkish fathers in Berlin.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Mr. Erdogan, the Bundestag recognized the massacre of Armenians as genocide. Thereafter German politicians have been threatened, the Turkish government was furious, many German Turks are offended. Why exactly?

Kazim Erdogan: Turkish attending my groups are asking the question of why this subject has emerged after a hundred years and while some are really outraged, some indignation is also staged. Many fear that they could be considered traitors if they do not raise their voices now in the direction of the Turkish government. There is much fear behind. Hardly anyone in Germany dared to criticize Turkish President Erdogan. I just returned from a two-month stay in Turkey and I noticed how fear is great to express themselves politically. People there are afraid of their own neighbors. Many people suffocate face this fear. “

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Why do young men living in Germany for a long time do not talk about genocide?

Erdogan: First, in the history books in Turkey no critical examination of the past takes place (…). There are only heroic tales. There is no word on the fact that war is automatically bad – there is no experience, no tradition in the treatment of guilt. (..).

SPIEGEL ONLINE: What do you – you oppose this anger?

Erdogan: I am trying to encourage critical thinking men. You should try to form their own opinions and not to accept the reality of what the Turkish government said.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: What influence has Erdogan on the Turkish population in Germany?

Erdogan: 70 percent are behind him. Many still consume almost only Turkish media. Thus that acts while the strategy perfectly Erdogan: No matter what he speaks, it is transferred to 90 live TV channels. (..)

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Why many see Erdogan as their protector and not Chancellor Merkel?

Erdogan: It may be because they fail to realize here what they wanted. It is easy then to lock up and idealize his former home and the government there – or that of his parents.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Are you afraid you even if you speak?

Erdogan: My native village in Turkey there are houses of Armenians, who were expelled in 1915 and when I’m there, I feel very close to what has been done against them. And I know that silence does not lead to good results. We must be able to apologize and recognize that the war perpetrated inhuman suffering. We must also be clear: German MPs of Turkish origin are members of the German Bundestag. So this is an internal German affair, in which the Turkish government should not interfere. Moreover, fear is the worst counselor. We need to speak with each other in a respectful and moderate manner. I also great concern that the trench widening between the Turkish and German companies.

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