What does Erdogan want to say by denying entry to German journalist Volker Schwenck?

After Turkey denied entry to the German journalist Volker Schwenck on Tuesday 19 April, the German journalists association (DJV) called it a harassment and stated that this was the result of the concession of the German government in the Böhmermann case.



A Part of Erdogan's presidential regalia

I do not really agree with that, there is more to it: On one hand we can see the harassment, but it is more important to see the gesture behind it. For Erdogan the foreign impression of this case is less important than how it operates domestically. It is a clear gesture of power showing everyone: “I am the one in charge!”

This situation gives Erdogan the opportunity to demonstrate his power to his domestic opposition and critics. The gesture states clearly: “See how I can mess around with them, what do think I could do to you.”

Moreover, this case is not meant as a harassment of German journalism at all, this is only a side effect. It is just another brush mark on the self-portrait Erdogan is painting to express that his influence and power goes far beyond the Turkish borders and that none of his domestic critics could even hope for mercy or the protection of any foreign institution.


Finally, to make it clear for those who still don't get it, the translation of this situation from the Levantine gesture language to English would look like this:
“Dare you to hope for the help of those guys!- They are not only my bedfellows, I already made them my rag bags.”