German Chancellor Angela Merkel hit back at criticism from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan against German lawmakers due to the Armenian genocide, Sputnik news agency reported. 

The row over Germany’s decision to formally recognize the Armenian genocide has deepened when the dispute came as some German MPs reported receiving death threats.

Merkel's spokesperson Steffen Seibert said the German parliament's decision must be "respected" by Ankara.

"The resolution was a political initiative that emerged from the midst of the Bundestag, which is a democratically elected, independent organ under our constitution," he said.

"The Bundestag reached a sovereign decision. That must be respected," he added.

Following last week's vote, Erdogan embarked on a series of angry tirades aimed at Berlin, saying he would "never accept the accusations of genocide."

The president then accused 11 German MPs with Turkish heritage, who backed the resolution of supporting "terrorism" committed by the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), and demanded they undertake "blood tests" to see "what kind of Turks they are."

Source ; MENA