Netherlands bars Turkish ministers as 'Nazi remnant' dispute escalates

[El L0rd]

                                 

The Netherlands has barred Turkish ministers from speaking in Rotterdam in a row over Ankara’s political campaigning among emigres, leading President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to brand its fellow Nato member a “Nazi remnant”.

The dispute escalated into a major diplomatic incident on Saturday night when Turkey’s family minister was prevented by police from entering her country’s consulate in Rotterdam. Hundreds of protesters waving Turkish flags gathered outside, demanding to see the minister.

Dutch police used dogs and water cannon early on Sunday to disperse the crowd, which threw bottles and stones. Several demonstrators were beaten by police with batons, a witness said. They carried out charges on horseback, while officers advanced on foot with shields and armoured vans.

“They don’t know diplomacy or politics. They are Nazi remnants. They are fascists,” he said.

Rutte called Erdogan’s reference to Nazis and fascists “a crazy remark”. He added: “I understand they’re angry but this is of course way out of line.”

Erdoğan chafes at western criticism of his mass arrests and dismissals of people authorities believe were linked to a failed July attempt by the military to topple him.

He maintains it is clear the west begrudges him new powers and seeks to engineer a “no” vote in the referendum.

Barred from the Netherlands, Cavusoglu arrived in France on Saturday ahead of a planned speech to Turkish emigres in the north-eastern city of Metz on Sunday, a Reuters witness said. Earlier, an official at the Moselle regional prefecture told Reuters there were no plans to prevent the meeting from going ahead.

A member of the Union of European Turkish Democrats also said on Saturday via a Facebook post that the Turkish foreign minister would no longer come to Switzerland for a planned event on Sunday after failing to find a suitable venue.

Zurich’s security department, which had unsuccessfully lobbied the federal government in Bern to ban Cavusoglu’s appearance, said in a statement on Saturday evening it was relieved the event had been cancelled.