A group of lawyers, lawmakers and civil rights activists are urging authorities in Germany to investigate Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Kurdish activist group Civaka Azad said lawyers filed the complaint Monday with Germany's federal prosecutor's office that relates to crimes allegedly committed against Kurds in southeastern Turkey.

It focuses on alleged crimes by Turkish security forces against Kurds in the town of Cizre. Among other things, they say Erdogan should be held responsible for the suspected deaths of Cizre civilians who hid in basements from Turkish artillery.

The U.N. said last month it wants to investigate the reports that more than 100 people died in Cizre.

Prosecutors are obliged to investigate such complaints to determine if there is evidence for charges.

By American Herald Tribune