Germany investigating abuse of Turkish ‘grey’ passports
German authorities believe hundreds of Turkish citizens may have entered the country by illegally obtaining “grey” service passports, Deutsche Welle reported on Thursday.
Service passports are typically
issued to non-diplomats making official trips abroad, allowing visa free travel.
In April, Sözcü reported that 43
of 45 participants on a visit to Germany organised by Turkey’s Yeşilyurt
municipality in 2020 had unexpectedly failed to return, prompting allegations
service passports were being used to facilitate human trafficking.
Authorities in the German state of
Bavaria are now investigating 30 suspects in relation at least 213 people
believed to have been smuggled into the country on grey Turkish passports,
according to the German public broadcaster.
Local prosecutor Gerd Schäfer told
DW the cases were complicated by the fact the passports were valid documents
and close cooperation would be required with Turkey.
“We're only at the beginning of our
investigation," he said.
The Turkish Interior Ministry has
started its own probe into local municipalities over claims.
A parliamentary inquiry into the issue was blocked by the ruling Justice and Development Party and its allies last month.
