German Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth | Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images Minister: Germany may grant Turks political asylum Germany ‘is open’ to those fearing government persecution.

Germany's Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth said journalists, politicians and scientists who have been critical of the Turkish government and fear persecution are welcome to apply for asylum in Germany.

"Germany is a cosmopolitan country and is open to all politically persecuted people. They can apply for asylum in Germany," Roth told newspaper Die Welt in an interview published Tuesday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government has cracked down on people suspected of having ties to the Gülen movement, accused of orchestrating the July 15 coup, or the Kurdish militant cause.

Roth said Erdoğan's post-coup backlash against members of the media, political opponents and academics "has nothing to do with our understanding of European values, the rule of law, democracy and media freedom.”

The situation in Turkey may get worse if Europe turned its back on the country, Roth said, but the government is aware that moves such as the re-introduction of the death penalty would mean the end of EU membership talks.