BERLIN, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that her government might adopt an even harder line in the longstanding feud between Berlin and Ankara.
"We must always retain the right to take further measures," Merkel told German commercial television network RTL on Sunday night over the topic of sanctions against Turkey, noting that her government has "already reacted with a very hard line so far."
The chancellor believed that Dogan Akhanli, a German author, has been released again in Spain after local authorities arrested him during his holiday in response to an Interpol warrant issued by Turkey.
"I am very happy that Spain has freed him again... We cannot abuse international organization like Interpol for such actions," she said.
Akhanli, 60, was born in Turkey, but emigrated to Germany in 1991 after spending years in a Turkish prison for political reasons. The author frequently criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"Turkey certainly does not like this. They want to silence me... From the age of 60 onwards I no longer want to remain silent," he was quoted as saying.
Turkey has requested Spain for extradition of the author. Akhanli's attorney Illias Uyar believed such a move was unlikely to be successful.
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel voiced a similar view, saying that he has "full trust in the Spanish justice system" and knows that Germany's "friends and partners in the Spanish government are aware of the situation."
"It would be tragic, if Turkey could also have people who raise their voices against president Erdogan arrested at the other end of Europe," he added.
Green party faction leader Katrin Goering-Eckardt voiced similar concerns and argued that Germany's police cooperation with Turkey must be re-assessed.
Despite welcoming Akhanli's release, Merkel lamented on Monday that his case was "unfortunately one of many which is one reason why we have altered our policy towards Turkey radically."
Furthermore, the chancellor sharply criticized Erdogan's recent call on German citizens of Turkish descent to boycott German parties in the country's national elections.
"It is completely unacceptable that the Turkish president would urge German citizens, even if they are of Turkish descent, not to cast their votes in parliamentary elections," Merkel said.
The chancellor had already warned against Turkish interference in German elections at her campaign rally.
Traditionally close relations between Berlin and Ankara have come under severe strain. Last month, the German government raised stakes in the longstanding conflict by warning tourists and investors to avoid the country, besides threatening to revoke financial aid.
The moves provoked ire from Erdogan, who accused Berlin of a "unique attack" on the sovereignty of Turkey.
Cem Oezdemir, Green party leader of Turkish descent, reacted on Monday with the recommendation to ignore such statements.
Gabriel's foreign policy speaker Niels Annen joined the rising criticism of Erdogan in Germany.
"The individual who is responsible for the alienation of Turkey and Europe is sitting in Ankara, not in Brussels," he told the newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau.
