Turkey Faces Arms Export Contracts Lockdown From Germany

German government has rejected over 10 arms export contracts to NATO partner country Turkey on the basis of protecting human rights.

According to German government figures, the federal government rejected eleven individual arms shipments starting November 2016, compared to only eight between 2010 and 2015, Deutsche Wellle German Radio reported Wednesday citing another German daily "Süddeutsche Zeitung" (SZ). 

Germany and Turkey have been locked in a deepening row after Berlin banned some Turkish ministers from speaking to rallies of expatriate Turks ahead of a referendum next month, citing public safety concerns.

"The importance of observing human rights will be particularly important in respect to arms export approvals," a ministry official reportedly said. Since the failed coup in July, "the Federal government's foreign security policy review" has given special consideration "to the risk of an intervention in the context of internal repression of the Kurdish conflict". 

According to the report, the most recent refusals involved weapons, ammunitions and parts for the manufacture of certain armaments.