German politicians slam Erdogan's expulsion of 10 ambassadors

German politicians criticised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to order the expulsion of ambassadors from ten countries, according to local media. 

Lawmakers from Germany’s Federal Democratic Party, Christian Democratic Union and Greens condemned Erodgan’s decision as "undiplomatic" and demanded collective action, newspaper Ziet reported.

The German Federal Foreign Office said it wants to hold consultations on how to respond to the move with the other nine countries, including the US, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden. 

"The possible expulsion of ten ambassadors, including the representatives of Germany and many NATO allies of Turkey, would be unwise, undiplomatic and would weaken the cohesion of the alliance," wrote the FDP foreign politician Alexander Graf Lambsdorff on Twitter. 

CDU foreign expert Norbert Röttgen said Erodgan "is leading his country further in a comprehensive turn away from Europe and the West", to newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung. 

Green Party politician Claudia Roth called for sanctions: "Erodgan’s unscrupulous actions against his critics are increasingly being disinhibited". Roth said an "international" response was needed, including sanctions and stopping arms sales. 

Erodgan ordered Saturday the Turkish foreign minister to declare ten ambassadors "persona non grata as soon as possible", using a diplomatic term meaning the first step before expulsion. 

"They must leave here the day they no longer know Turkey," he said, accusing them of "indecency".

The move was prompted by a joint statement on Monday from the envoys calling for the release of Parisian-born philanthropist and activist Osman Kavala. 

Kavala, 64, has been jailed for more than four years on charges linked to anti-government protests and a failed military coup. He has not been convicted. 

Human rights Watch the Council of Europe has issued a final warning to Turkey to comply with a 2019 European Court of Human Rights order to release him pending trial. 

Several European countries said late Saturday that they received no official warning from Turkey ahead of the announcement to snub ten ambassadors. 

Norway said their ambassador had not "done anything that would justify the expulsion". 

The US State Department said it was seeking clarity from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the incident.