Upset by the government's recent changes to the immigration law, four leading Turkish groups are boycotting an integration summit Thursday called by Chancellor Angela Merkel. But Berlin says the meeting will go ahead.A summit meant to ease the lives of Germany's estimated 15 million immigrants hit a major hurdle when four Turkish groups representing a chunk of the foreign population threatened to withdraw from talks this week with Chancellor Angela Merkel's government. The groups, who were part of the first such integration summit held last year, say they feel hurt and discriminated against by the government's recent changes to a 2005 immigration law which tightens restrictions on foreign spouses joining their non-German partners in Germany.
| "Oh, Achmed, I'm so hurt! Hold me!" |
And if that doesn't work ...
"We've concluded that it doesn't make any sense to participate in the summit because the German government hasn't understood the seriousness of our concerns and apparently doesn't want to talk about making possible changes to the immigration law," Kenan Kolat, head of the Turkish Association in Berlin and Brandenburg (TGB), told the online version of Der Spiegel on the eve of the summit.
Helga and Horst, but not Ahmed and Aische?
In addition to raising the minimum age for foreign spouses to 18, Germany wants them in future to learn basic German before they enter the country. The aim is to combat forced marriages believed to be widespread among Germany's Turkish community.
Turks make up the largest group among the country's 6.7 million foreigners. But Turkish groups are irked that the regulation only applies to non-Germans. "If Helga and Horst are allowed to get their partners here why not Ahmed and Aische too?" Kolat said. Speaking at a press conference, Kolat added the law amounted to "ethnic discrimination" and applied "double standards."
Brother, the Turks have written the book on "ethnic discrimination" and applied "double standards" - in Turkey
| Always a good idea to point out that you'd be happy to make your immigration laws reciporical to the other guy's. We Americans just want our southern border to be patrolled as well as Mexico enforces its southern border. The Germans want their new citizens to speak German as well as the new immigrants in Turkey speak Turkish. What's that you say, the Turks don't have any immigration? Like I was just saying, simply ask for reciprocity ... |
"We too believe that every forced marriage is one too much and should be severely punished," he said. "But the law is no means to counter forced marriages."
So what alternative does Herr Kolat offer? (crickets)
Government says summit will go ahead
The integration summit on Thursday is one of a number of measures drawn up by Chancellor Angela Merkel's government to reach out to its large immigrant population amid mounting concerns in Europe about radicalization and home-grown terrorism.
| They don't need to 'reach out' to their immigrant population, they need to explain how things work ... |
| Picked right up on that whole parallel society thing, did they? Have they heard of 'sharia'? |
| They don't need a weighty immigration plan, they need a simple immigration plan. They can borrow mine: 1) come ready to work 2) learn our language 3) adapt to our customs 4) don't put your hand out for anything 5) make sure your kids become fully assimilated into our society. Simple, no? |
| In German. |
They're staying away from an infidel-sponsored meeting. No haram, no foul.
"Dream of multiculturalism has failed"
The rift between the Turkish groups and politicians ahead of the summit also reflects a tougher attitude in Germany towards immigrants after decades of politicians refusing to accept its status as an immigrant country.
| They had no problem with an 'immigrant' country, they just didn't demand that immigrants had to become German. |
| Good morning. |